New apps want to help you control your smartphone usage
Fri 25 October 2019:
Google launches experimental digital wellbeing apps via Google Play Store to keep a check on smartphone usage.
Called Digital Wellbeing Experiments, Google introduced six apps for Android with an aim to encourage developers and designers to build digital wellbeing tools in their products and services. These apps are available for free on Google Play Store and are called – Unlock Clock, Post Box, We Flip, Paper Phone, Desert Island, and Morph, according to NDTV’s Gadgets360.
Google had launched its Digital Wellbeing tools for Pixel smartphone users in November last year, and later expanded the support for non-Google devices. As per a recently leaked internal Google document, it has been mandatory for the Android smartphone makers launching devices on Android 9 Pie or Android 10 to include digital wellbeing tools in their phones in order to get Google Mobile Services.
Unlock Clock
This is a lock-screen live wallpaper that shows how often you unlock your smartphone in a day, helping users understand their smartphone usage better. Since it is a live wallpaper, it won’t appear as an app on your phone after installation and you will find it in your live wallpaper library.
Post Box
It is like typical post box that collects all the notifications in one place and delivers them all at once at a scheduled time, thereby minimising distractions. Users can choose how often they want to see the notifications.
We Flip
This app allows users to switch off from technology in a group and spend time together in the physical world. “Simply wait for everyone to join, then flip the switch together to begin your session. If someone in the group unlocks, the session will end and you’ll be able to see how you did,” Google explained.
Paper Phone
This app will help users to disconnect by printing a personal booklet containing key information for which normally smartphone is needed. Paper Phone allows to choose what to include in the booklet, including contacts, maps, calendar information, and more. Users can also create paper apps for recipes, phrasebooks, and notepads.
Desert Island
Desert Island aims to limit your dependence on the tech by challenging you to get through a day by just sticking to essential apps. You can choose the important app, up to seven, and then see if you can last through the day.
Morph
Morph is an Android launcher that shows different apps based on time and location, thereby keeping users focussed on important tasks. “Simply think about how you divide your time and choose the apps that are most important to you in each mode. Based on time or place, your phone will automatically adapt – giving you just the right apps at just the right time,” Google said.
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