App that encourages friends to put their handsets down and talk to each other wins prize

By Trevor Mogg November 19, 2014

apple tree app wins prize smartphone cafe — ”[Image

We’ve all seen it. Friends in bars and cafes apparently taking more interest in their smartphones than each other. Maybe you are that person.

Perhaps the phenomenon is getting out of hand in Singapore, as three students there have just won funding to develop an app aimed at getting friends to reconnect in the real world and once again make eye contact when out socializing.

The app, called ‘Apple Tree,’ taps into people’s penchant for discounts and bargains. It works like this: When two or more friends put their smartphones together, a virtual apple tree begins growing on the display. The longer the friends spend time chinwagging with each other, the more the tree grows, and the more apples you get.

Once your meet-up’s over, count up your digital fruit and exchange them for rewards such as money-off vouchers at participating establishments.

The idea for the app was selected as one of the winners in a contest with the theme, ‘Bringing Singaporeans Closer Together.’

The prize includes S$30,000 ($23,000) in cash to help the three friends develop the mobile software in time for a March 2015 launch during Singapore’s 50th-birthday celebrations.

Phone Stack

Apple Tree isn’t the first attempt at encouraging people to put their handsets to one side at social gatherings. Several restaurants have tried offering discounts to get people to engage with one another, while a guy from California hit the headlines a couple of years back for inventing a game he called Phone Stack.

To play, friends pile up their phones on the table at the start of an evening, with the loser being the first person who grabs their device. And the consequence? They have to pick up the tab.

[CNA via BBC]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Apple
Apps

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

The best apps and websites for tracking wildfires in 2021

wildfire tracker feature image

In some places, the so-called "wildfire season" is now all year round. As the disruptive effects of climate change descend on the planet, one manifestation of its presence is extremes of melting arctic ice, rising ocean levels, intense hurricanes and tornadoes, and persistent wildfires. While in the past, it was primarily scientists, meteorologists, universities, the government, and hobbyists who tracked wildfires, these days a sizable portion of the population now either lives in a fire zone or knows someone who does. That personal connection with wildfires brings online tools and mobile fire-tracking apps into the spotlight.

A number of informative websites help you to track both emerging and historical wildfire activity and escape routes, while apps, synced to that information, let you check the status whenever you want. Many apps and sites use sources like InciWeb, a U.S. interagency incident management system run by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, which collects wildfire incident data. They may also derive data from Cal Fire, the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, and a host of other U.S. government agencies that monitor wildfires all over the world.

Mobile

How to control your iOS app permissions

how to control ios app permissions feat image

Mobile apps are the universal gateway to multi-purpose functionality. With Apple's iOS apps, permissions allow you to seamlessly tag photos and videos with your location, permit video apps to use your camera and microphone, allow map apps to determine your exact location to give you proper directions, and let weather apps give you the correct forecast so you know whether to dress warmly or grab an umbrella. When apps know what they need to know about you, they can do a better job. But sometimes apps can go overboard seeking information they don't need or gather it constantly, and that's where you need to take control.

Take a few minutes to get an idea of what you're already sharing with your iOS apps, and whether that information is absolutely necessary and if there's anything you need to change. You can grant and revoke permissions at any time. On iOS, apps request permissions at the time of need, including to show notifications and often when you install or use a new app. Here are a few ways to control your app permissions in iOS 14.5 -- which is similar to, but somewhat more detailed and specific, than previous versions.
App privacy permissions

Mobile

What is Citizen? The safety app explained

Atlanta Protest Held In Response To Police Custody Death Of Minneapolis Man George Floyd

With so much going on in the news lately, more of us than ever before want to get the real story on what's happening in our cities, while ensuring we stay safe. News apps are great, but when it comes to staying safe and informed, we need something more immediate. Step up Citizen, an app that's designed to provide you with real-time safety alerts and instant access to verified 911 information, keeping you and your loved ones situationally aware and safe. With more than 234,000 downloads since May 25, 2020, and over 7 million users, Citizen's popularity is growing, with many people using it to check police presence and ensure safety at protests and demonstrations in their city.

If you've found yourself wondering, "What is the Citizen app?" or are curious about what it can do and how to use it, read through our guide as we take a look at some of the app's most useful features and show you how to get started.
What is the Citizen app?