Apps

Pokémon Go Plus wearable is out, doesn’t really do much

Published

September 19, 2016

Marvin Velasco

The Pokémon Go Plus accessory is finally available, and it’s here to rid users of the nuisances Pokémon Go players have been experiencing since its launch. No, the wearable won’t cure the broken tracking system or the in-game errors, but it’ll make creature catching a little less of a headache.

With a single button that lights up for notifications, the accessory allows players to leave their smartphones tucked away while both devices are connected through low-energy Bluetooth. It can be attached to any part of your clothing or the bundled bracelet — really depends on how proud you are of your Pokémon Go addiction.

It’s all as simple as it looks. Once paired with your phone, the Plus will flash a blue light when a PokéStop is in the vicinity. Press the lonesome button at that moment, and you’ll acquire all the available goodies. When a green or yellow light comes up, that means a Pokémon appeared in your area. Green means you’re about to catch a Pokémon you’ve seen before; tap the button, and the game will automatically throw a regular Poké Ball for you. Yellow signifies a pocket monster you’ve yet to own, so you’ll have to bring out your phone in order to catch it.

Successfully collecting from a PokéStop or securing a Pokémon will be confirmed by multiple flashing colors; failure leads to a string of red lights. Since there’s no screen to speak of, you have to check your phone’s notifications or the game’s journal to find out exactly what happened.

As you can tell, the Pokémon Go Plus is essentially a supplement to the mobile game, and can in no way stand alone. There’s also a bunch of functions you can’t pull off, such as battling gyms and sorting your items. On the bright side, users will have a much easier time hatching eggs, as the wearable device can record distance without the phone’s display being on.

Excited to purchase one of your own? Hold on, because here’s the bad news. Availability is quite limited, and even if you do find one, it’ll cost you $35. That’s an outrageous amount for a piece of blinking plastic with nothing but a button.

If you must have it, Nintendo’s Official UK Store, Amazon.com, and GameStop.com might have it in stock.

[irp posts=”10698″ name=”Pokémon Generation 2 is out”]

Source: Pokémon Go

Related Topics:Pokemon Pokemon Go Pokemon Go Plus

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.

Apps

Google might be moving away from flat design

Bye bye, Material Design.

Published

April 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

It’s time to kindly shove off, flat design. After over a decade of Google’s Material Design, Android is finally showing signs of ditching flat, monotonous colors. In a series of logo redesigns, Google is reportedly trying out gradients as its latest reinvention.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google is moving forward with incorporating gradients into its designs. Previously, the company started changing the icons of a few first-party apps including Photos and Maps. Now, it seems that the new design philosophy will reach the rest of Google’s suite.

In the obtained designs, the rest of Google’s plethora of apps will no longer look static. The splash of gradient adds the feeling of layering without losing the company’s roots in flat design. Docs and Sheets, for example, look like a light shining on pieces of paper.

Image source: 9to5Google

It’s unknown when Google plans to incorporate the new philosophy. However, with Google I/O coming fast, it’s fair to bet that an update might come out around that time, especially since that event’s logo already has gradients.

Google’s evolution is not without its precedent. Besides the company’s small trial previously, Apple’s iOS has also made inroads into more three-dimensional designs with the new Liquid Glass. However, unlike Apple, Google’s newest design is a far cry from the former’s return to Windows Vista aesthetics.

Personally, I don’t mind the transition to 3D, as long as it’s done well. Though still visually pleasing, flat design has started overstaying its welcome. It’s time to try something new.

Apps

Significantly better ChatGPT Images 2.0 launches

Stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more formats, improved overall experience

Published

April 22, 2026

GadgetMatch

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Images 2.0. This updated image generation model has a meaningful jump over competitors and its current ImageGen 1.5.

Now available across ChatGPT, Codex and the API, Images 2.0 delivers stronger creative reasoning, better design output, more flexible formats, and a faster, more intuitive user experience.

Paid users (Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise) will benefit from a more advanced image experience (ImageGen Thinking 2.0). The state-of-the-art model can take on complex visual tasks and produce precise and immediately usable visuals.

ChatGPT Images 2.0 is likewise better for creative and professional use cases. It has a significantly better performance at producing text-heavy assets, infographics, product mockups, UI concepts, and more structured visuals.

Moreover, users can generate images in a wider range of aspect ratios. The outputs are limitless, from posters to comics or anime to detailed infographics to simple images. API users, on the other hand, will also have access to 4K resolution.

To try the upgraded image generation model, simply head to ChatGPT and select “Images” in the sidebar.

Users will be able to see the top five prompts as well, curated by OpenAI, for them to try. This is to highlight the capabilities of the new model.

Overall, ChatGPT Images 2.0 offers a more seamless experience on mobile, web, and desktop. The intuitive user experience includes improved prompt suggestions, loading states, editing features, and multi-output views.