Apps

France is rolling out an official coronavirus contact-tracing app aimed at containing fresh outbreaks as lockdown restrictions gradually ease, becoming the first major European country to deploy the smartphone technology amid simmering debate over privacy fears. The French will able to download the StopCovid app on their Google Android devices and Apple iPhones starting Tuesday, the same day they'll once again be allowed to go to restaurants and cafes, parks and beaches and museums and monuments. Neighbours including the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland are developing their own apps, though they're using different technical protocols, raising questions about compatibility across Europe's borders. Authorities hope the app can help manage virus flare-ups as they reopen the economy in France, which has been living under some of Europe's tightest restrictions since it became one of countries hardest hit by the pandemic, with nearly 29,000 deaths. Some Parisians were keen to adopt the … [Read more...] about French virus tracing app goes live amid debate over privacy

MOSCOW: When nurse Maria Alexeyeva caught coronavirus at work, she isolated herself at home and followed the rules set down by Moscow authorities: She checked in with doctors regularly, didn't leave her apartment and downloaded a smartphone app required by the city to keep tabs on quarantined patients. The Social Monitoring app tracks users via GPS and sends them random notifications demanding a selfie to prove they're still at home. If it detects they've left home or they fail to provide a photo, they face a fine of about $56 each time. But soon the app became a nightmare for Alexeyeva. It crashed when she tried to take a photo. Weak with illness, she struggled with the software for days, sometimes on hold for hours with technical support. And when her quarantine ended, she discovered she had accumulated 11 fines totaling $620. "That's more than my monthly wage,'' Alexeyeva told The Associated Press. "This quarantine has been hard on me. And now I have to deal with this on top of … [Read more...] about Virus-tracking app angers thousands in Moscow with fines

Facebook launched an “avatar” feature in the US recently, which allows its users to create a cartoon version of themselves and use it as a replacement to the standard smiley stickers. You can use your custom emojis in Facebook posts, as your profile picture and even when you use Facebook Messenger. Now, this feature will eventually find its way to more regions, but you don’t have to wait for it because there are apps that already let you do the same thing and even allow you to use them in other messengers like WhatsApp, Snapchat and Telegram... Bitmoji This is one of the most popular apps—now owned by the creators of Snapchat messenger—that allows you to create a personalised caricature yourself to use on your social networks and messaging apps. First, you need to register via the app. This allows you to save your creations online and access them even when you change handsets. Bitmoji lets you choose between three cartoon styles: Classic, Bitstrips and … [Read more...] about Make your avatars with these cool emoji apps

Internet search giant Google has started rolling out the dark theme support for Google Docs, Sheets and Slides for Android smartphone users. This was announced by the company on a G suite blog post where it said that these platforms will automatically adapt the dark mode for handsets, so users will not have to separately enable it. However, they will get the option to turn off dark mode for Docs, Sheets, or Slides independently. If users customise this, the app will stay in that mode irrespective of what theme the smartphone is working on. The dark mode support for these apps will come automatically to Android phones so users don’t have to do anything to get access to it. To turn off the dark mode for the app, users can head to Menu > Settings > Theme > Dark in each app. When using the Dark theme, you can preview your current document or sheet in the Light theme using More > View in light theme. This support is rolling out to users already and the extended rollout … [Read more...] about Google enables dark mode for Docs, Sheets, and Slides for Android smartphone users

With a nearly flawless rating on the App Store, this top-rated exercise and fitness tool will help you exercise individual body parts including your back and your neck, and there are over 60 workout programs that include nearly 300 exercises based on your individual fitness level and goals. … [Read more...] about Stay fit and healthy at home with this top-rated app