Biden drops plan to ban Chinese-owned apps TikTok, WeChat

President Joe Biden on Wednesday revoked executive orders from his predecessor Donald Trump seeking to ban Chinese-owned mobile apps TikTok and WeChat over national security concerns, the White House said.

A statement said that instead of banning the popular apps, the Biden administration would carry out a "criteria-based decision framework and rigorous, evidence-based analysis to address the risks" from internet applications controlled by foreign entities.

Trump had claimed the apps posed national security risks and had sought to force the sale of TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance and remains one of the world's most popular social media apps, to US investors.

The effort by the Trump administration prompted a series of legal challenges which delayed the efforts to ban or force the sale of the applications, which heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

There was no immediate comment from the two companies.

Biden issued a new executive order citing an "ongoing emergency" related to "the continuing effort of foreign adversaries to steal or otherwise obtain United States persons' data" and calling for a four-month review.

University of Texas law professor Bobby Chesney, who follows national security issues, called the Biden order "a good middle path."

"They affirmed the nature of the threat and the propriety of using sanctions to address it, and they have held the door open for reimposing some version of these sanctions... but likely with a far stronger and more defensible record," Chesney tweeted.

But officials said that Biden's order stopped short of rescinding a review of the 2017 acquisition of TikTok forerunner Musical.ly by ByteDance.

"It would be premature to celebrate; Bytedance remains subject to an entirely separate CFIUS divestment order," Chesney said in a blog post, referring to the intergovernmental Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is carrying out the review.

"Today's action by President Biden does nothing to change that. Of course, it could be that this too will change," he added.

Finding 'unacceptable risks' -

Biden's order seeks to identify any "connected software applications that may pose an unacceptable risk to US national security and the American people" including "applications that are owned, controlled, or managed by persons that support foreign adversary military or intelligence activities, or are involved in malicious cyber activities, or involve applications that collect sensitive personal data."

The new order calls for the Commerce Department and other federal agencies to develop guidelines "to protect sensitive personal data... including personally identifiable information and genetic information" from misuse.

TikTok is believed to have some one billion users worldwide including more than 100 million in the United States, and is especially popular with young smartphone users.

Last September, US District Judge Carl Nichols issued a temporary injunction at the request of TikTok blocking the effort to ban downloads of the app in the United States.

Trump had given his blessing to a plan that would have given TikTok to US tech giant Oracle with investments from retail powerhouse Walmart, but that deal failed to win approval in Beijing.

WeChat, part of the Chinese tech giant Tencent, is a massively popular "super app" which includes social networking, messaging, e-commerce and more.

The ban on WeChat was also delayed by a lawsuit from users based in the United States claiming the ban infringed on their rights.

The Biden move comes a day after the US Senate passed a sweeping industrial policy bill aimed at countering the surging economic threat from China and pumping more than $170 billion into research and development.

The package, a key provision of which addresses a shortage of semiconductors that has slowed US auto production this year, will help American industry bolster its capacity and improve technology, in an effort to avoid being outmaneuvered by Beijing as the adversaries compete for tech leadership.

Agence France-Presse

Facebook suspends 'tens of thousands' of apps in privacy review

SAN FRANCISCO, United States—Facebook said Friday it suspended "tens of thousands" of apps on its platform as a result of a privacy practices review launched following a scandal involving Cambridge Analytica.

The review started in 2018 after revelations that the political consultancy hijacked personal data on millions of Facebook users, and it included attorneys, external investigators, data scientists, engineers, policy specialists and others, according to a Facebook statement.

The suspensions are "not necessarily an indication that these apps were posing a threat to people," said vice president of partnerships Ime Archibong, adding that some developers "did not respond to our request for information."

Archibong said the investigation "has addressed millions of apps. Of those, tens of thousands have been suspended for a variety of reasons while we continue to investigate."

The suspected apps were associated with about 400 developers, and many of the software programs were still in testing phases, according to Facebook.

The huge social network became the subject of intense scrutiny after acknowledging in 2018 that Cambridge Analytica misappropriated personal data on tens of millions of Facebook users as part of its work for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Subsequently, Facebook said it would review all apps on the platform to determine how they used data and if they respect its privacy rules.

"In a few cases, we have banned apps completely," Archibong said.

Bans can be caused by violations including inappropriately sharing data obtained from Facebook or making data publicly available without protecting people's identities, according to the social network.

APP CRACKDOWN

"One app banned was called myPersonality, which shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place, and then refused our request to participate in an audit," Archibong said.

A year ago, Facebook said it had banned some 400 apps including one called myPersonality, which according to Archibong "shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place," and refused to accept an audit.

Facebook said a recent agreement on privacy with the US Federal Trade Commission, which included a record $5 billion fine, calls for additional oversight on app developers.

It "requires developers to annually certify compliance with our policies," Archibong said. "Any developer that doesn't go along with these requirements will be held accountable."

Facebook earlier this year filed a lawsuit against South Korean data analytics firm Rankwave in California to make sure it isn't breaking the leading social network's rules.

REVAMPING CONTROLS

Along with slapping Facebook with a record fine for data protection violations, the settlement in July called for Facebook to create a privacy committee within its board of directors to be appointed by an independent nominating committee.

This would end "unfettered control" of decisions on privacy by Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, the FTC statement said. 

Facebook also will be required to conduct privacy reviews of every new or modified product, service or practice before it is implemented, including for its WhatsApp and Instagram services.

"We have a responsibility to protect people's privacy," Zuckerberg said at the time.

"We're going to set a completely new standard for our industry."

As the news was announced by Facebook, Zuckerberg was in Washington meeting with policymakers on questions about privacy and antitrust issues, and held talks at the White House with President Donald Trump.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nintendo shares jump on Super Mario app for iPhones

TOKYO - Nintendo shares surged more than five percent on Wednesday after the game giant said it would release a Super Mario app for iPhones next month.

The stock price rose as much as 5.5 percent to 26,215 yen before closing the morning session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange up 4.38 percent at 25,950 yen.

Shares in Nintendo, creator of the Pokemon franchise, have been on a tear since the July release of Pokemon Go -- making the company more valuable than Sony at one stage.

The stock has gained more than 50 percent this year on the phenomenal success of the mobile app for iOS and Android developed by San Francisco-based Niantic.

Kyoto-based Nintendo said it would release Super Mario Run worldwide for Apple's iPhone and iPad on December 15.

Customers can download it from the App Store for free to try some limited elements of the game.

An optional one-time payment, which will be $9.99 in the United States, grants unlimited access, the company said.

Neil Campling, an analyst at Northern Trust Capital Markets, hailed the company's approach of enticing gamers in the same way as other mobile game successes as "a great strategy".

"To set a low incentive and then a low total cost when engaged could set Nintendo on a differentiated path, which ultimately could be a game changer," Campling said.

Super Mario Run will also be introduced for Android-based devices at a later date.

Nintendo is also to release a new game console early next year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

The benefits of mobile apps for business

MANILA - Among the greatest gifts that technology gave to millennials are laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets. Nowadays, you will probably not find anyone without a mobile gadget.

What has made Filipinos crazy about mobile phones?

Well, mobile phones allow Filipinos to connect with their families and friends. Whether they are busy people or not, they still find time to send their loved ones a message or give them a call even for just a couple of minutes.

The emergence of mobile apps has made a huge difference, especially to businesses who want to be connected more with their customers. Mobile apps used to be popularly associated with games. But now, app developers have created different ways on how apps can best help a company generate more profit with just a click.

THE FILIPINO INGENUITY

Filipinos have been known all over the world for our exemplary contributions in the fields of art, music, science, etc. The new generation of Filipinos is being molded in such a way that they can be competent vis-a-vis their foreign counterparts. We aim to be not only the best, but also to uplift everyone’s spirits, especially during trying times.

Filipino mobile app developers are now becoming competitive with other app developers from different countries.

One Filipino-owned company, Imergex, has developed Enddo, a
job-matching app that can be beneficial to both companies and employees.

Imergex is also known for Panic Button, an app the company developed to save people who might be in danger.

HOW ENDDO WORKS

Typically, an applicant goes to a company to apply for a job and submit the requirements needed. But there is no assurance that the applicant will be accepted, and there is a need to apply in other companies, which means spending more for food and transportation.

Enddo eliminates the need to spend going to different companies to apply. By downloading the app, a job hunter can instantly apply with any company that he or she wants and just wait for the company to respond.

Both company and employee may sign up using the Enddo mobile app. The company will post their requirements in hiring for new available positions. When an employee signs up, he or she will be able to see the list of companies that are currently hiring. The applicant can switch from the list of companies by swiping.

A swipe to the left means that the applicant is not interested in that company. Swiping to the right marks it as an opportunity for the applicant to be hired if the applicant meets the requirements of the company.

If an applicant passes the initial screening through chat, a job match occurs. The applicant will then be asked to report to the office and submit other requirements prior to hiring. It is as easy as “swipe, match, and chat.”

This vision of the app developers is to be able to increase employment without the hassle of falling in line at job fairs.

Enddo, the first job matching app in the Philippines, is on beta mode and available for download at Google Playstore. It will soon be available on iOS.

MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT

Studies have shown that people now spend more time using their mobile phones or tablets more than desktops and laptops to access the internet. According to Zenith’s Media Consumption Forecasts, the trend has jumped to 28 percent compared to last year's figure, and it is predicted to rise each year.

One of the reasons why mobile users accessing the internet increased is because of how businesses have taken advantage of making their online visibility through the creation of their websites.

Business owners have taken a big leap towards making their online visibility a lot wider with the creation of their own mobile platforms. And why not? If it is something that can help increase their profit, then it is something that they need to have.

Here are the benefits of using mobile apps for a business:

• It increases the chances of people coming across your app. Because of the increase in usage of mobile phones, there is always a chance that your mobile app will be noticed.

• Mobile apps are developed differently. They can provide various functions like booking forms, search for features, general information, prices, sends messages and many more.

• You may also use your mobile app as your means of giving loyalty or privileges to your customers. Example, through your mobile app, you have assigned a specific code for every customer that downloads the app. Every time they shop, all they need to do is to provide the code and a specific number of points will be given to them. Accumulated points can be exchanged with an equivalent amount, i.e, the customer gets $1 for every 10 points.

• Designing a mobile app is crucial because with it comes your identity or your brand which will be your ticket to your success in business. The mobile app should be made in a way that customers can be fully enticed to avail your products or services frequently.

• Using the mobile app can increase customer engagement. For example, if you have a restaurant business, instead of calling to order, you can directly order through the app and be able to pay for what you have ordered online via credit or debit card.

• Not all small businesses may have the idea of developing an app. Imagine how much advantage you can have if you are able to serve your customers 24/7 and depending on the kind of product and service that you may offer, you can reach out to more people from different corners of the globe.

You build your customer’s loyalty by coming up with an app that is able to provide what they need with just a single click.

BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP

Each year, the number of college graduates increases. Unfortunately, not all college graduates match their skills with the skills that are needed by companies. So now comes the question among parents today: should the choice of college course be based on what their child is truly interested in or should they base it on what is in demand?

By the time these children graduate, the trend may have become different. Would they just try pushing their luck in applying for the kind of job that is related to the course they studied or should they take necessary actions in order to become employed so as not to be among the unemployed citizens?

In order to grow as an individual, learning should not stop after graduation. He or she should always have the drive to learn new things. Sometimes, we become more successful in a profession we have never dreamed of. Acquiring additional education through workshops and seminars can help reduce the unemployment rate in our country.

Not all applicants may have the means to spend on travel to submit job applications and requirements. To lessen the trouble of going from one company to another, Enddo is one good mobile app that can help individuals seek employment by just using their mobile phones anytime, anywhere.

Through this mobile app, applicants may be able to secure a job with less effort and can instantly have a means to directly communicate with the employer. Not all applicants may have the required skills asked by the listed companies, but they will be able to know which skills are currently needed so that they can improve themselves and hopefully be able to find the right match to their skills.

App developers must find ways on how to continuously enhance their applications to improve performance and increase customer engagement. Mobile apps will soon be the primary choice for marketing of all businesses because of its capabilities of being able to reach more than online advertising can do.

The use of mobile phones has become an integral part in any individual’s life. While this can benefit consumers, mobile apps developers are able to monetize and can help them generate more profits.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Rody rumbles with 'Go Duterte' game app

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte shoots criminals and corrupt politicians in the new Android game called "Go Duterte."

It's from Manila-based app developer Kulit Games which is also responsible for the recent "Tanim Bala " game app.

The app currently has an average rating of 4.9 stars from over 300 users on Google Play, and has been receiving positive feedback.

- Mornings @ ANC, November 30, 2015

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Apple App Store suffers 'worst' malware attack

WASHINGTON, United States - Hackers infiltrated the vaunted Apple ecosystem by injecting malicious software into popular Chinese mobile apps, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of users and raising security concerns as the US tech giant prepares its newest iPhone launch.

The company said Monday it had removed tainted applications from its App Store, days after security researchers revealed the breach of Apple's normally secure system which aims to weed out infected applications.

In China, more than 300 apps including the hugely popular instant messaging service WeChat and ride-hailing app Didi Kuaidi were infected with the "XcodeGhost" malware, potentially allowing access to private user data including passwords, Chinese state-run media said.

The reports were a blow to the US firm, which has Greater China as its second-largest market.

Apple told AFP that it had removed the affected apps from its online store.

"To protect our customers we've removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software and we are working with the developers to make sure they're using the proper version of (Apple software) Xcode to rebuild their apps."

"To protect our customers we've removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software and we are working with the developers to make sure they're using the proper version of (Apple software) Xcode to rebuild their apps."

Apple's reaction came days after US-based cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks uncovered the flaw, saying the malware came from computer code uploaded to Baidu's cloud file-sharing service used by Chinese app developers.

Anti-censorship group Greatfire.org, which tracks Chinese Internet restrictions, called the news "the most widespread and significant spread of malware in the history of the Apple app store, anywhere in the world."

Apple, which reviews and approves each application, has generally kept its apps malware-free, analysts say.

But Alan Cockerill at the US security firm Lookout said "there are no perfect systems."

In a blog post, Cockerill said that "while Apple has traditionally done an excellent job of keeping malware out of its App Store, malicious actors are always looking for new ways to break through."

"The malicious code may have hundreds of millions of victims," Cockerill said.

Apple checks failed

Johannes Ullrich at the SANS Technology Institute said that "the real problem here is this malicious code made it past the Apple App Store check-in process."

"Apparently there is some trust between Apple and some of these developers of large applications like WeChat so these applications aren't necessarily tested as carefully if they are coming from a name-brand company," Ullrich said.

Palo Alto Networks said the malware was hidden in the Xcode software required for apps and made its way into applications without the knowledge of developers.

But once installed, the malware could allow a third party to gain access to private and personal information on an Apple device.

The malware can issue a fake dialog alert to gain access to passwords, or hijack a browser to direct users to a fake website. It can also read and write data in the user's clipboard, which could be used to get passwords, according to Palo Alto.

Only Chinese apps were known so far to have been infected -- although some of those, including WeChat, are also used outside China.

Chinese apps are thought to be vulnerable because developers often bypass the official, more secure, Apple channels, which can be slowed by Chinese Internet monitoring.

Tencent, which makes the WeChat software -- used by 500 million in China -- said it had repaired the flaw and that there had been "no theft (or) leakage of users' information or money."

The makers of app Didi Kuaidi, which claims 200 million regular users, also reported a fix and said no user privacy was compromised.

Bad timing

Independent security consultant and researcher Graham Cluley said the incident is not all bad for Apple.

"It suggests that Apple's security is pretty good," Cluley said in a blog post.

"After all, this was quite a complicated way to get malware into the App Store."

Cluley said Apple "has a much much better track record than Google's Android one for security."

But Thomas Reed at the software firm Malwarebytes said it may hurt Apple at a delicate time.

Apple is set to release its new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus handsets on Friday in the US, China and several other key markets.

"There is little doubt that there will be some revision of the app review process at Apple as a result, but it's also certain that this incident will erode consumer confidence in the App Store as a (mostly) unassailable malware-free fortress," he wrote in a blog.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

7 mobile apps that can help during natural disasters

MANILA - The Philippines is a country prone to many natural disasters.

In one year alone, no less than twenty typhoons visit the country. It does not help either that the country is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and is at high risk for earthquake and volcanic eruptions.

While natural disasters cannot be avoided, the following mobile applications can help you prepare better when these strike.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

1. Disaster Alert

Photo from iTunes

Disaster Alert by the Pacific Disaster Center provides mobile access to multi-hazard monitoring of and early warning for "active hazards" around the globe. Additional information and reports about hazards can be viewed and shared.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

When a selfie is not enough, take a 'velfie'

MUMBAI -- Move over selfie, India is embracing the "velfie" with Bollywood stars, sporting heroes and even politicians taking and posting videos of themselves online using a range of new mobile apps.

From lip-synching famous movie scenes and quizzing political leaders to interviewing job candidates, Indian tech firms are betting on the latest craze to grip social media -- the video selfie.

"2014 was about selfies... 2015 is for #velfies!" screams the blurb for Velfie, a smartphone app similar to Dubsmash where users mime songs or quotes to pre-recorded audio before posting the clips on social networks.

German-developed Dubsmash has rapidly become a global phenomenon since its launch in November and has been downloaded more than 50 million times across 192 countries, according to its website.

The global craze is sweeping the Indian film industry, with numerous stars entertaining legions of loyal fans with dubbed videos which are uploaded to popular sharing platforms Facebook and Instagram.

Actors Salman Khan and Ranveer Singh, and actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Richa Chadda are just some of the Bollywood stars to have embraced it, lip-synching everything from Hindi film dialogue to lyrics from Western songs.

A short clip of Khan and Sinha miming lines from a 1971 Indian movie has been liked more than 71,000 times on Instagram, while hundreds approved of Chadda's turn from controversial American hip-hop song "Baby Got Back."

Rammohan Sundaram, co-founder of India's Velfie, which was launched in April, said videos were a more entertaining way for Bollywood royalty and other celebrities to engage with their audiences.

A Twitter made of 'velfies'

"A selfie is only one picture but a 'velfie' can speak of emotions that you just can't render in a single photo," Sundaram told AFP.

"Selfies will remain because pictures will always be there but we're creating a whole new space that's more exciting, more engaging and more social in nature," he added.

Film star Akshay Kumar used Velfie recently to promote his film "Gabbar is Back" by asking fans to dub their favorite line from the movie to win a chance to meet him.

Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh is also a fan -- his lip-synching of one of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan's most well-known movie lines has been liked 12,000 times on Facebook.

The app -- which is free and limits videos to ten seconds in length -- has been downloaded 200,000 times and is already operating in around 140 countries, according to Sundaram.

He said its pause-and-play feature and the fact many of the videos are accompanied by subtitles differentiates it from Dubsmash.

"We've also made a lot of enhancement filters that make the videos look really good," the tech developer added.

Sundaram said Velfie plans to expand to become a "video social network" in the coming months, essentially a Twitter-like timeline consisting solely of video selfies.

Users will also be able to live-stream on the platform and Sundaram hopes brands will use it to advertise, generating revenue.

Quizzing politicians

Another new Indian-based app available on Android and iOS is Frankly.me, which allows netizens to pose questions to celebrities, sports stars and politicians who then answer with video selfies.

Users of the app, launched in January, are also able to vote for certain questions to be answered, increasing the likelihood of a response, according to co-founder Nikunj Jain who says Frankly.me is aiding democracy in India.

In Delhi elections earlier this year, Aam Aadmi Party candidates including leader Arvind Kejriwal fielded thousands of queries directly from voters and then posted videos of themselves replying.

"For the first time in the history of this country we had a state election where candidates were using this platform to talk directly to the electorate and people voted based on the responses," Jain told AFP.

He said more than 400,000 questions have been asked and around 30,000 have been answered so far on Frankly.me.

"Casting directors are also using it to do auditions and companies are using it for hiring," Jain added.

He said that while popular video app Vine was about "broadcasting" short videos, Frankly.me aimed to create "rich, two-way conversation" with people replying to each other when it was convenient for them.

"We believe that video selfies can be the primary mode of all non-urgent communication on the internet," Jain stated.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Twitter expands ads to outside websites, apps

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter unveiled plans Tuesday to sell ads that run outside its own platform in what could be the start of a broader advertising network.

The one-to-many messaging service announced it would begin syndicating its "promoted tweets" to allow advertisers to reach people who are not on Twitter itself.

The first partners for the service will be Yahoo Japan and the news app Flipboard.

Because tweets are already embedded in those services, the new arrangement will allow advertisers to deliver promoted messages directly to users of those services.

"These new partnerships open a significant opportunity to extend the reach of their message to a larger audience," Twitter's Ameet Ranadive said in a blog post.

"Syndicated ads will be seen by users within Twitter content sections on third-party properties, as well as within third-party content areas."

The move allows an advertiser to run a simultaneous campaign on and off Twitter, Ranadive noted.

"Thousands of Web and mobile applications already syndicate Tweets to provide compelling content experiences, through products such as Fabric and Twitter for Websites," he added.

"Combine that with the flexibility and control of a promoted tweet, and we think marketers will have an almost infinite capacity to create large-scale, rich and well-targeted advertising campaigns across a variety of platforms. In a small number of private tests with Flipboard, both Flipboard and our advertising partners saw promising results."

Twitter, which unveils quarterly results this week, has been under pressure to show both revenue and user growth following its highly anticipated 2013 initial public offering.

Twitter is seeking to boost engagement with users amid growth which has been slower than some analysts have expected.

In October, Twitter said the number of monthly users grew 23 percent from a year earlier to 284 million.

A Pew Research Center report showed that among US users, Twitter is behind Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Instagram in the number of users.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Are Chinese language apps the new Candy Crush?

Philipp Mattheis knew his gaming app was addictive when he realized he kept checking his phone -- hooked by the brightly-colored reminders telling him to play again or risk falling from the triple-figure level he had reached.

Yet gripping the German journalist's attention was not Candy Crush, but one of a new generation of Chinese language apps that are using tricks traditionally employed by online games to get users hooked on learning.

For years the thrill of studying a new language has been tempered by the tedium of rote learning and repetition required to be truly accomplished -- particularly the case for memorising a character-based system -- but now language apps are increasingly turning to the same praise, reward and challenge format that games such as Candy Crush use to such devastating success.

Shanghai-based Mattheis is an avid user of the app Memrise, which offers courses in standard Mandarin Chinese and several dialects, and has 25 million users.

"We’ve turned learning into a game where you grow a Garden of Memory," the firm says. The premise being that when users learn words, they plant virtual seeds, which grow and bloom the more they review and practise. If they forget, then reminders are sent that their buds of knowledge are wilting.

"It's so quick, it doesn't feel like any effort," Mattheis told AFP. "I learnt a few hundred characters without really trying."

Memrise, along with rivals Skritter and ChineseSkill, all feature interactive tools that entertain as well as teach -- a trend known as "gamification" -- pioneered by the big daddy of education apps, DuoLingo.

"In a lot of Western countries we now see ourselves as competitive with Candy Crush. We want to be a very popular game and we want people to play when they're bored," Gina Gotthilf, a DuoLingo spokeswoman, told AFP.

DuoLingo does not currently offer a Chinese course, leaving a gap for language learners keen to capitalise on a rising China, and Mandarin as a lingua franca in smartphone-hooked Asia.

'You feel like a hero'

"Candy Crush is effective because it adjusts the difficulty level to just the right level for you," said Ben Whately, who worked on Memrise's Chinese courses.

"Adapting to a level where people feel clever is a great way to keep them playing...That is exactly what our learning algorithm does: adjusts when you are tested so that you always have to struggle a little bit, but you are generally successful."

Users commit Chinese characters and definitions to memory with the help of animations and mnemonics, and are notified to review the characters each time they are just at the point of forgetting them, a technique known as "spaced repetition".

"Within a couple of hours of study you can read most of a Chinese menu. Every time you go to a Chinese restaurant or walk through China town, you re-engage with that. You feel like a hero," Whately said of his app.

Daniel Blurton, a director at a paediatric mental health clinic in Hong Kong, said he enjoyed the ability "to see immediate progress and track how much you've accomplished," making the daunting task of starting Chinese seem "manageable".

This sense of reinforced achievement is also evident in the app ChineseSkill, which features a cute cartoon panda that punches the air with happiness when you remember, for example, that "ren" means "people".

ChineseSkill uses the classic videogame tactic of "unlocking" levels only when you get enough multiple choice answers right, bringing users back again and again as they try to beat their own memory.

A lesser-considered obstacle in Chinese learning is learning to write characters correctly, a time-consuming technique that greatly enhances one's ability to remember them.

Skritter instructs users on the order and direction of strokes with bright graphics and feedback that flashes when you miss, recalling another popular game called "Fruit Ninja".

"The only way to quickly learn lots of characters is to write them over and over (20-30 times)," Hong Kong-based businessman Brad Jester told AFP by email.

"I started by doing this on paper, but Skritter is better because it replays them for you in a better timed sequence."

Helpful tools, not a panacea

A key question is whether these methods work any better than traditional immersion in a native-speaking environment or a traditional classroom.

Jester, now a fluent speaker, commented: "People sometimes think they can take the easy route of using flashcards and dictionaries to learn Chinese but that is 100 percent not the case.

"Until these apps shame you into studying harder, they will just be helpful tools that reinforce lessons learned," he said.

Linguistics expert Dr. Peter Crosthwaite of the University of Hong Kong believes such apps may facilitate memorisation -- an important aspect of language learning -- but cannot offer the holistic approach a good teacher would deliver.

"Due to the continued growth and expansion of China's economy, more people than ever are wishing to learn Chinese," Crosthwaite said.

However, "There are very, very few examples of the internet being used to teach someone a language from a beginner to advanced level of proficiency," he cautioned.

"The gamification of (language) learning is, in my opinion, a welcome approach -- particularly with children -- although one must be careful to focus on the learning aspect of the tasks, rather than the point-scoring."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Zynga revamps hit 'Words With Friends' game

SAN FRANCISCO - Pioneering social games maker Zynga on Thursday launched a new version of "Words With Friends" as the company strives to regain its footing in the mobile device age.

The revamped application, marking the game's fifth anniversary, has several new features including solo play offline and a dictionary for learning words, Zynga said in a statement.

The game, which is akin to Scrabble, has become the top free game of all time at Apple's online App Store, Zynga said, and the title is billed as the world's most popular mobile word puzzle, with some 55 million matches happening at any time.

The "Words With Friends" upgrade comes as Zynga's new chief executive Don Mattrick tries to revive the company that leapt to stardom with games tailored for Facebook but was knocked off stride by a shift to play on mobile devices.

Zynga in August vowed to perform better, as its reported losses widened and revenues sank in the second quarter.

The loss for the quarter deepened to $62.5 million, compared with a deficit of $15.8 million in the same period a year ago.

Revenues dropped sharply to $153 million in the three months ending June 30, from $230 million a year earlier.

The San Francisco company recently announced a new line of sports games under the brand "Zynga Sports 365."

Zynga said it signed a licensing deal with the National Football League and NFL Players Inc. to use real NFL teams and athletes, as well as a multi-year partnership with Tiger Woods for golf-themed games expected to debut on mobile devices in 2015.

Zynga has also announced a deal with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to license the Looney Tunes brand for mobile games, expected to be launched later this year.

"We are further diversifying our product portfolio in order to reach more consumers and widen our demographic across more entertainment genres," Mattrick said during an earnings call.

More than 7.7 billion "Words With Friends" games have been played, with the top five scoring cities listed as Makati, Philippines; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kingston, Jamaica; Singapore, and the Northern California coastal city of Santa Cruz.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Shazam breaks 100-M monthly user mark

SAN FRANCISCO -- Shazam announced Wednesday that 100 million people use its song-recognition mobile service monthly in a 34 percent surge from a year earlier.

Shazam applications have been downloaded to more than 500 million mobile devices since the the 1999 launch of the firm, which said it was adding users at the rate of 13 million monthly.

The applications let people identify songs, television shows or even some ads by "listening" and then provides opportunities to make purchases or link to online content related to what was heard.

"Shazam is evolving from being a way to identify a song to a way for people to explore and connect with the world around them," chief executive Rich Riley said in a statement.

"Shazam now delivers a deeper discovery and content experience for music and TV, with retail, cinema and more coming soon."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Uber pulls into mobile dining and travel apps

SAN FRANCISCO -- Uber teamed up with dining and travel smartphone applications Wednesday as the controversial Internet-age car-hailing service moved to park itself at the heart of mobile lifestyles.

The San Francisco-based startup let about a dozen businesses such as Starbucks, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines, TripAdvisor and restaurant reservation service OpenTable make it simple for people to summon Uber cars from inside their applications for smartphones or tablet computers.

"We're excited to partner with Uber to help TripAdvisor travelers conveniently find a ride to their destination in cities throughout the world," TripAdvisor senior vice president of global product Adam Medros said.

Uber also released a software kit to allow makers of mobile apps to link to its platform, expanding its reach with a tactic that has proven effective for other Internet firms including Facebook and ramps up pressure on Uber's rivals such as Lyft.

It means that after people book flights or make dinner reservations online, for example, they can easily arrange for Uber cars to get them to airports or restaurants.

A "My Reservations" section in the Hyatt mobile application will feature a button icon letting users summon Uber cars.

"Our partnership with Uber offers customers new opportunities to simplify their travel experience," United Airlines vice president of loyalty Praveen Sharma said.

Uber did not release information about revenue sharing or referral fees involved with its new partners.

Taxi industry fuming

The announcement came a day after Uber revealed that a political strategist who ran US President Barack Obama's winning campaign in 2008 has hopped on board at the startup.

David Plouffe will become senior vice president of policy and strategy at the firm beginning late September.

Plouffe will manage Uber's global policy and political activities, communications, and branding efforts, Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick said in a blog post, describing Plouffe as "a proven field general and strategist."

Plouffe's mission will include shepherding Uber "well beyond the challenges of the Big Taxi cartel and into the brave new world of software-powered transportation," according to Kalanick.

The Uber app, which allows clients to connect directly with "black car" services, has upset the established taxi set in several countries.

Uber delivers

As part of its ambitious expansion, Uber this week began testing the potential of having its drivers deliver over-the-counter medicine, candy, beauty supplies or other goods that might be fetched from neighborhood markets.

The service, called "Corner Store," lets people pay for items using Uber accounts on mobile devices and then have products delivered.

The test began on Tuesday and was limited to Washington, D.C.

"Forget racing to the store after a long day at the office," Uber said in an email message to members of the service in the US capital.

"We're bringing diapers, allergy medicine, toothpaste and over 100 other items to your doorstep in 10 minutes or less."

Uber is the most prominent of the apps that are shaking up the traditional taxi landscape in cities around the world.

It has already faced significant resistance from regulators, who accuse it of unfair competition and lack of standards.

Uber is only one of many new smartphone-dependent car services seen as bypassing strict regulations faced by licensed cab drivers.

Uber is present in more than 170 cities spread about dozens of countries.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Need an assistant? Apps aim to improve productivity

Timeful Product Introduction from Timeful on Vimeo.

 TORONTO -- Too many things to do and not enough time to do them? New apps are designed to act as personal time assistants to get tasks done and improve productivity.

Timeful, a free iPhone app available in the United States and Canada, uses artificial intelligence to schedule tasks in users' calendars based on meetings and events they are already committed to. It also estimates how long it will take to do the tasks.

"Time is by far the most precious resource we have and by far the one we manage the poorest," said Dan Ariely, co-founder of the California-based company Timeful.

Users connect their iCloud, Google or Outlook calendars to integrate their existing meetings and events. They can also add to-do items and habits they would like to establish.

"There's a cacophony of things that say 'do me.' We provide algorithmic help to make them more concrete, because if it's not in your schedule, it's unlikely to get done," said Yoav Shoham, a co-founder of Timeful.

The app determines when users are most likely to complete certain tasks, and takes into account when they are most productive to schedule them, and factors the information into the algorithm. The app also calculates when and where a task is most likely to be completed.

"Time, like money, is about opportunity cost," said Ariely. "Every minute you're not focused during your productive hours is a waste."

Other personal assistant apps available that aim to make people more productive include Tempo for iPhone and Sunrise for iPhone and Android.

Although the apps do not create schedules, they include additional context about meetings, such as directions, to improve productivity. Tempo also provides drive time and insights about people and companies associated with each event.

But not everyone is convinced an app is needed for time management.

"An app could be helpful, but (productivity) is more about the discipline of planning more than it is about a particular tool," said Mark Ellwood, president of Toronto-based Pace Productivity.

"We have found time spent with planning correlates with results, regardless of whether someone is using an app, a piece of paper, or the back of an envelope," he added.

Ellwood said one possible risk of using an app is that it could take longer to manage tasks within it than it would just write it down, which would defeat the purpose.

He added that productivity is about focusing on high-priority items, which requires discipline.

"I could have the world's best to-do list or app and still procrastinate and still work on things that don't need to get done," he said.

"Ultimately it's the person that decides what to do with their time. The intelligence needs to be in your head, not the machine" he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

New apps let workers rate each other

TORONTO -- Wondering how well things are going on the job and what your co-workers think? New apps remove the guessing game by allowing colleagues to anonymously rate each other.

Knozen, a free iPhone app, allows colleagues to rate each other on traits such as assertiveness, patience, analytical ability, friendliness and skepticism.

"Knowing more about yourself is a gift, and knowing more about how you're perceiving others and where it's different and where it's the same can be really useful," said Marc Cenedella, the founder and chief executive officer of New York-based Knozen.

The app, which operates via a work email address when at least seven colleagues in the same company are signed up, poses questions about which colleague is likely to exhibit a particular personality trait such as assertiveness or patience.

All the questions are positive, according to Cenedella, and aimed at assessing an employee's personality.

"The important thing is there are no bad traits. Someone can be structured and organized, or they might be unstructured and open to new things. Both are good, and there's no wrong answer in personality assessment," he said.

The app plots each person's results on a matrix showing personality traits on a scale of one to five. Users can also see the traits they are more prone to than others.

"When we say someone is patient it means that compared to everyone else they will be more likely to wait longer and not get snappy," Cenedella explained.

He added that greater self-awareness can help people work better in teams by understanding their strengths and weaknesses better.

Another free app for iPhone, Good.Co, which is available worldwide, lets people take quizzes to assess their personality and to receive feedback from contacts in their Facebook and LinkedIn networks.

"Many times feedback we receive from others is more honest than what we'd say about ourselves," said Samar Birwadker, chief executive officer of Good.Co, which is based in San Francisco.

The app uses positive questions and provides a score that measures the compatibility of employees with each other and with companies based on personality traits, attitudes and motivations.

"For individuals, self-awareness and self-discovery can help strengthen their career, but also improve other facets of their life as well, including interpersonal relationships," Birwadker said.

Ryan Ackers, a recruitment adviser at the Dutch human resources consulting firm Randstad, said self-awareness on the job is crucial for career success, happiness and compatibility with co-workers. But he said some employees could perceive the feedback negatively.

"When a person is asked to share their opinion on another person, a popularity contest can result, and though many may get lots out of the apps, some may be offended and even hurt," he said. "If they see themselves not getting rated the way they expect, it could create animosity and low morale."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ford shows off 'smart' Mustang at Taiwan tech show

TAIPEI -- US auto giant Ford showed off its new Mustang at Asia's biggest tech fair Tuesday, billing it as "the smartest Mustang to date," with voice controls and early warning collision systems.

Due to go on sale in Asia-Pacific in 2015, the slick sports car can connect to drivers' mobile apps using a platform which will be introduced to Taiwan, New Zealand and Thailand next year for the first time, the company announced at the Computex conference in Taipei.

Ford already introduced the AppLink technology -- which allows drivers to make their mobile apps respond to voice commands -- in China, Australia and India earlier this year.

Celebrating 50 years of production, the original Mustang was launched at an event on top of the Empire State Building in 1964 and quickly became a byword for cool among America's youth, who loved the highly customizable "pony car" that stood out next to their parents' bulky sedans.

But the latest edition may put the reins on rebellious teens, with a feature which allows parents to limit top speeds and audio volume.

Despite this sensible streak, Trevor Worthington, vice president of product development in Asia Pacific, said the classic car continued to "resonate" with drivers.

"This enhances every aspect of driving, whether you're listening to music, changing the radio station, optimizing your car for track driving or adjusting it for different road conditions," he said of the new model which has an aviation-inspired dashboard and comes with a choice of two different engines.

Smart technology and the Internet of Things -- a term used to describe the connection of everything from cars to household appliances to cyberspace -- is a major theme of Computex this year.

The Mustang adjusts the car's speed automatically to keep a safe distance from vehicles in front and can boost brakes if it anticipates a collision

Drivers can also set modes to normal, snow-wet, sport or track.

Ford displayed the new Mustang at the Beijing Auto Show in April in a bid to break into China's sports car market.

Tuesday was the first time it had been put on show in Taiwan.

In addition to the Mustang, Ford will demonstrate new vehicle-to-vehicle technology at Computex, which it says will allow cars to share information and potentially prevent accidents.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com