Apps

Uber merges with Grab: What happens now?

Let’s try to answer some questions

Published

March 26, 2018

Daniel Morial

Earlier today, we woke up to the news about Grab’s acquisition of Uber’s operations in Southeast Asia. This is perhaps the most surprising news for commuters lately and, like you guys, we have some questions as passengers of ride-sharing services. What should we be concerned about and what’ll happen next?

Shortly after the official announcement from Grab’s headquarters in Singapore, the company also posted an FAQ page to address some common questions.

We took the liberty to help you guys out and here are some of the key questions answered by Grab:

What does this deal mean for passengers?
In the immediate term, nothing will change and operations will continue as normal. As we work together to combine the Uber and Grab platforms, you can expect better service with more drivers and transport options available on one app.

Will I still be able to use the Uber app?
The Uber service will be available in Southeast Asia for two more weeks until 8 April 2018, as we board Uber drivers to the Grab platform. Uber riders can immediately download and use the Grab app to book rides for your traveling needs in Southeast Asia.

Will fares change?
No. For services that are on dynamic fares, such as GrabCar or GrabShare, fares will continue to be calculated based on a base distance, with a dynamic surcharge that will be applied based on factors including demand and supply in that particular point in time, traffic conditions, and estimated time taken for the journey. This is a fair calculation for drivers as they navigate varying road conditions throughout the day. This means fares are lower in low-demand periods — and vice versa — which helps match drivers to passengers efficiently throughout the day.

Will I be able to get a ride faster?
We’re working hard to board Uber drivers onto the Grab platform. We appreciate your patience during this transition timeframe if there may be any service disruptions. In the following weeks, you’ll be able to enjoy a faster booking experience, as we welcome more drivers to the Grab platform.

What happens to my account information in the Uber app?
Your information will not be shared with Grab. If you are new to Grab, we will still need you to register your account with us to start riding,

I am an Uber for Business customer. How will this change affect me?
Uber for Business services for employees of local and global companies will not be supported for trips taken in Southeast Asia after the transition. Uber rides outside of Southeast Asia will still be supported through existing Uber for Business agreements.

According to Grab, passengers of Uber in Southeast Asia can still use the app until April 8. Passengers and drivers alike have two weeks to migrate prior to the shutdown of Uber’s local operations including UberEats if available in your region.

Keep in mind that Uber is only merging with Grab in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia. This means you can still book an Uber and use their services in other parts of the world, so don’t delete the app just yet.

For the complete FAQs, head over here.

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.