All posts tagged: apps

Relationships formed on dating apps are as strong as those formed in person, study finds

Relationships formed on dating apps are as strong as those formed in person, study finds

Published by José

A recent study published in the journal Social Sciences suggests that romantic relationships initiated through dating apps are not significantly different in quality compared to those formed in person. These findings challenge lingering societal perceptions that app-based relationships are inherently less genuine or meaningful. Over the past decade, dating apps have surged in popularity, becoming one of the most common ways people meet potential partners. Despite this trend, online-initiated relationships have historically faced skepticism. Critics argue that such relationships may prioritize physical attraction over emotional connection or be hampered by issues like dishonesty in online profiles. “Since earning my PhD, I have been fascinated by the integration of technology in relationships, families, and development,” said study author Mickey Langlais, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Sciences and Design at Baylor University. “One facet that particularly caught my interest was the increased reliance on dating applications, often used to help form romantic relationships. When I began this research, dating applications carried a negative stigma, yet many of my students and friends mentioned meeting their …

Windows has a hidden tool that makes installing apps much quicker

Windows has a hidden tool that makes installing apps much quicker

Published by skeptic

While Windows comes with plenty of apps out of the box, the real fun starts when you start installing third-party software. Think Spotify, Photoshop, Google Chrome, Apple Music, Steam, or whatever packages suit your needs. The process of actually installing this software often involves heading to the relevant official hosting page on the web and finding the download link. Since Windows 8 (which launched in 2012), there has also been the option of the Microsoft Store (previously the Windows Store)—offering a similar experience to the app store on your phone. There’s a third option too, though it’s less well-known: the Windows Package Manager. It runs in the Windows terminal, the text-based interface in Microsoft’s operating system, and while this makes it a little less user-friendly–at least at first–it’s speedy and lightweight, and great for installing all kinds of programs. Getting started with the Windows Package Manager The Windows Package Manager can list everything installed on your system. Screenshot: Microsoft Open the Windows command line by launching the Start menu, and searching for “powershell.” Right-click the …

Fitness apps can reveal your location – updated laws would help plug this hole in our personal security

Fitness apps can reveal your location – updated laws would help plug this hole in our personal security

Published by skeptic

Fitness apps have revolutionised the way we approach health and exercise. They provide users with the ability to track their workouts, monitor their progress towards fitness goals and share achievements with a like-minded community. However, these benefits come with significant privacy and security risks, particularly regarding the disclosure of users’ locations. Recent articles in the Guardian and French newspaper Le Monde, reported that fitness apps, such as Strava, had revealed the locations of some world leaders, posing a potential security risk. This situation spotlights the gaps in legislative measures that fail to evolve at pace with technological advancements. But it also underscores a critical need for users themselves to adopt a more vigilant approach when engaging with such platforms. While legal frameworks lay the foundation for protecting user privacy, they are not foolproof against breaches. This necessitates a dual responsibility. Both regulatory bodies and users must collaborate to ensure robust data security. Fitness apps often require access to location data to provide accurate tracking of activities like running, cycling and walking. While this functionality is …

10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

Published by skeptic

Don’t doomscroll more depressing news, use that phone to lift your mood instead. The best mobile games will bring a little joy to your day, whether you’re killing time on the commute or chilling on the couch. And these games are all addictive slices of gaming pleasure that we have been gorging on for years. As smartphone screens and processing power have grown, the lines between mobile gaming and just gaming have blurred, and you can find tons of great mobile games that have been ported or adapted from other systems (Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Roblox, Stardew Valley, Grand Theft Auto, and the list goes on). But all of these titles are best enjoyed on other platforms. Our picks here are games that work especially well on your phone. Snag one of the best mobile controllers to level up your smartphone gaming. You may also be interested in subscription services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade. You can even play some Android games on your PC now. Power up with unlimited access to …

New study reveals how photo filters influence likability on dating apps

New study reveals how photo filters influence likability on dating apps

Published by José

A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science has shed light on how people judge unfamiliar faces on dating apps, particularly when these faces are enhanced with photo filters. Subtle photo filters—those that make small, barely noticeable changes to appearance—tended to increase how much people “liked” a face. In contrast, exaggerated filters, which make faces look more artificial, had the opposite effect, reducing the level of “liking.” Online dating apps like Tinder rely heavily on first impressions, with users making split-second decisions based on profile pictures. In recent years, the use of photo filters—tools that allow people to alter their appearance—has skyrocketed, particularly on social media platforms and dating apps. Filters range from playful (such as turning someone into an animal) to more subtle adjustments that make a face look smoother, younger, or more symmetrical. Given the importance of visual cues in attraction, researchers wondered how these filters might influence judgments of trustworthiness and likability, particularly in the context of dating apps where such judgments can have real-world consequences. For example, if …

Third-Party Apps Updated With iOS 18 Features

Third-Party Apps Updated With iOS 18 Features

Published by skeptic

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 add several new features for third-party apps, such as the option to create Control Center shortcuts that can be used in the Control Center, added to the Lock Screen, or activated with the Action Button. We’ve rounded up a list of third-party apps that have added support for ‌iOS 18‌ features. Halide Popular camera app Halide can be accessed and launched from the Lock Screen, just like Apple’s Camera app. You can even take images using Halide while the iPhone is locked. Halide can be added to Control Center, and it supports Dark Mode and Tinted icons. CARROT Weather Carrot Weather supports Control Center widgets. You can add shortcuts to Control Center to launch the app to the Weather or Maps tab, plus there is support for dark and tinted app icons on the Home Screen with more than 50 alternate app icons to choose from. On the Apple Watch, CARROT Weather now supports Live Activities so you can monitor when rain will start or stop right from your wrist. …

Share your experience of quitting dating apps | Dating

Share your experience of quitting dating apps | Dating

Published by skeptic

We would like to hear from people who have recently quit using online dating apps about how that is going. If this is you, tell us: what caused you to delete the apps? Was there a specific trigger, or did you make your decision after a period of mulling it over? Which apps were you using and how long for? What were your experiences like with them? Have you been dating offline since leaving Bumble or Tinder, and if so, how is that going? How easy, or challenging, have you found it to meet people? Have you considered going back to the apps, or have you sworn them off for good? Share your experience We would like to hear from people who have recently quit dating apps about how that is going. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete any personal …

Sonos Admits Its Recent App Update Was a Colossal Mistake

Sonos Admits Its Recent App Update Was a Colossal Mistake

Published by skeptic

When setting up my Sonos home theater system, I had a persistent problem. I was trying to add a Sonos wireless subwoofer to my network, but according to Sonos’ mobile app, the Sub was nowhere to be found. The app would throw a “Could not connect” message, or—even weirder—show me that I was trying to connect a gray box labeled “product” with a serial number that had nothing to do with anything. “I thought the smart home was supposed to make your life easier,” my husband commented mildly, as he watched me factory-reset the Sub a few times, turn my phone on and off again, toggle Bluetooth, switch phones, and finally bang my head against a wall and cry before calling Sonos tech support. As we all know, I am far from the only one who has problems with Sonos’ new app; the company pushed out a radical redesign in May that broke a number of key features—such as the ability to change the volume on some of its speaker systems—and angered countless longtime Sonos …

Stephen Merchant on his ‘preposterous’ trajectory; the trouble with the Zoe nutrition app; and when does drinking become a problem? – podcast | Life and style

Stephen Merchant on his ‘preposterous’ trajectory; the trouble with the Zoe nutrition app; and when does drinking become a problem? – podcast | Life and style

Published by skeptic

Comedian, writer and actor Stephen Merchant on standup, fame and the pressures of cancel culture; testing the ‘world-leading science’ claims behind the Zoe nutrition app; and the point when writer Harriet Tyce realised she didn’t want to be remembered only as a drinker How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

I fell in love and got married in six months – after I abandoned dating apps

I fell in love and got married in six months – after I abandoned dating apps

Published by skeptic

In her new column, life coach Hattie MacAndrews shares her advice on the problems plaguing her clients. This week she tackles the all-too-familiar sensation of dating app fatigue. Hattie was familiar with that low, fed-up feeling that follows a session of swiping through endless faces. In fact, she was so exhausted by it, she deleted dating apps and went on to fall in love and get married just six months later. Here she shares her advice for overcoming dating app fatigue – and falling in love. Hattie MacAndrews has experience with dating apps The issue: Dating app fatigue I have been single for the last couple of years and I’m suffering from dating-app-fatigue. It feels like I have tried and tested every single dating app and still no luck. I spend hours scrolling and swiping. Often I get no ‘matches’ at all, and when I do they don’t seem to go anywhere. Every person who doesn’t reply makes me feel worthless and has such a negative impact on my confidence. I really want to meet someone …