Admittedly Apple iWatch uses have had it since October last year, but as of today at Mobile World Congress, the Doublepoint startup has launched the updated version of its popular WowMouse gesture-touch control app for Android smartwatches.
Launched at CES in January, the free app now supports Google’s Pixel Watch 2, having already garnered around 30,000 downloads by Samsung Galaxy users since CES, according to the company.
As with the iWatch gestures, the WowMouse app creates a sort of ‘wrist-based’ mouse, using taps fed via Bluetooth to the watch to allow users to control headsets, phones, tablets, computers and other devices.
On his stand at the Four Years From Now section of MWC, founder Ohto Pentikäinen told me: “Gestures are a big theme nowadays, with Apple Vision Pro coming out.
We see people doing these pinches all over the streets nowadays!
Networking app BeScene launches today to bring filmmakers and other creatives (actors/actresses, animators, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, editors, producers, production assistants, script coordinators, writers and so forth) a Tinder-like experience to help build connections within the entertainment industry.
“The simplicity and familiarity allow each user to find what they need quickly and in a way that is meaningful: through real human connections,” Armistead says.
Former Tinder executives attempted a similar strategy in 2018 with a networking app called Ripple, which uses the familiar swipe mechanism to match professionals with each other.
HUSSLUP, another like-minded networking app for the film biz, also has a swipe feature, however, it’s more aligned with LinkedIn since it provides job search and posting capabilities.
While BeScene hasn’t raised any external funding yet, the company gathered $250,000 from friends and family in 2022.
Through FlowGPT, users can build their own GenAI-powered apps and make them publicly available, earning tips for their contributions.
“Creative,” “Programming,” “Game” “Academic”), while creators get options for customizing the behavior — and appearance — of GenAI apps.
I say model the creator recommends because FlowGPT apps really, at their core, are prompts — prompts that prime models to respond in certain ways.
Many of these apps could potentially cause harm, like therapy apps and apps that advertise themselves as authoritative health resources.
It’s the wild west of GenAI apps — and the toggle’s ineffective to the point where I barely notice a difference in app selection with it switched on.
Google announced a new set of features for phones, cars, and wearables today at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
The company said that starting this week, Google Messages will get a feature that lets you access Gemini in the app.
Google is also rolling out a feature for Android Auto that reads out summaries of long text messages and contextualizes group chats.
On the productivity front, Google is extending support for handwritten notes to docs on Android phones or tablets using just a finger or a stylus.
Google is also updating the Fitbit app with support to get data from different sources like AllTrails, Oura Ring, and MyFitnessPal.
Google is sunsetting the Google Pay app in the US later this yearGoogle has announced that Google Pay is shutting down in the United States in June, as the standalone app has largely been replaced by Google Wallet.
Users can continue to access the app’s most popular features right from Google Wallet, which Google says is used five times more than the Google Pay app in the United States.
After June 4, users will no longer be able to send, request or receive money through the U.S. version of the Google Pay app.
Users who used the Google Pay app to find offers and deals can still so do using the new deals destination on Google Search, the company says.
Google says millions of people in over 180 countries use Google Pay to check out when shopping on desktop, mobile and in store.
This week, the Financial Times reported the EC will issue its first-ever fine against the tech giant for allegedly breaking EU law over competition in the streaming music market.
It reads:We’re happy to support the success of all developers — including Spotify, which is the largest music streaming app in the world.
In the case of the EU complaint, the concern is that Apple’s App Store distorts completion in the music streaming market.
“There are other rivals to Apple Music — there are Deezer, there are Soundcloud.
A rep for the EC declined to comment on news related to Spotify’s complaint or any pending fines.
The company is part of an increasing number of resume and skill apps that are trying to combat discrimination in the hiring process.
Hellohive hosts virtual networking programs between companies and candidates on the app, with clients including Goldman Sachs, American Express, and Morgan Stanley.
Hellohive’s holistic approach to hiring is important right now especially, as companies have been shifting away from DEI commitments.
Candidates also complete a course model that prepares them for the job recruitment process.
They then express interest in an employer on the app, and the hiring process formally kicks off.
Investing app Grifin today officially launched its anticipated investing model called “Adaptive Investing,” which enables you to automatically invest in your favorite brands that you frequently shop from.
“Investing, and even having a healthy positive relationship with money, is an incredibly difficult thing to do and achieve,” co-founder Aaron Froug tells TechCrunch.
It also introduces a “Secret Cash” function, allowing for non-public purchases and putting more money away as cash for their future.
“I’ve been personally using our app for a little over two years and I’ve invested in 115 unique companies,” he notes.
Additionally, Grifin is planning a redesign of its app, which will include a premium version as well as an AI chatbot to help people learn how to invest.
TikTok launches its ‘Add to Music app’ feature available in over 160 countriesTikTok announced today that it is launching its “Add to Music app” feature, which lets users add a song playing on a clip to services like Apple Music and Spotify, in 163 new countries.
The function lets users add the song to Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify depending on the availability in the region.
They can tap on the button and select the music service of their choice the first time.
Last year, ByteDance launched its music service TikTok Music in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, and Indonesia.
The company added it is is working on making the Add to Music App feature available to TikTok Music users soon.
The CEO of meditation app Insight Timer, Christopher Plowman, is frustrated.
That’s what happened with Insight Timer, a popular meditation app with around 25 million installs and 3 million monthly active users.
Because Insight Timer doesn’t take a cut of users’ donations to favorite teachers, those donations shouldn’t be subject to Apple’s commission — or so Plowman believed.
Insight Timer implemented the feature using Stripe as the payment provider on the backend, as the rule permits.
During the time the commission-free donations feature was live, Insight Timer’s users donated roughly $100,000 per month to the app’s teachers, Plowman says.