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

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.