As the world goes on to adapt and adjust to the ‘new normal’ defined by COVID-19, technology has been used primarily as the first line of defence and comfort globally. Mobile applications are used to combat and fight against COVID-19, from contact tracing with Bluetooth and QR technology, to helping people stay safe and entertained at home with educational materials or multiplayer entertainment. The following are recommendations made by the team from Algotech, who aims to make your life easier through the use of mobile application technology.
Work Applications
An effective mobile application that allows you to integrate all email systems into one place. Spark Email enables you to access all of your emails easily and quickly at one go. Perfect tool if you work with different email systems for work. Available on Android and iOS.
Bunch: Group Video Chat & Party Games
The entertainment application that gets you to play video games with your friends over video chat! A great way to maintain and build social connections from home without the use of expensive gaming systems or consoles. Available on Android and iOS.
Finance Applications
Money Manager – Expense & Budget
The need to stay at home due to quarantine inevitably would cause an increased spending from online. With the Money Manager, users are able to take note of their expenses effortlessly. Your expenses would be visualized into a simplistic yet effective infographic, so that you can decide what to cut back on at a glance. Available on Android and iOS.
Cashzine
The mobile application that rewards users for developing a good reading habit as a leisure activity. Cashzine informs and provides readers with the latest news from various categories, allowing them to exchange their in-app coins for cash at any time. Available on Android and iOS.
Curious Cat: Money for Surveys
Through the use of PayPal, the Curious Cat allows their users to earn money from completing surveys. The perfect pass-time for you if you want to earn a little extra on the side in this time of crisis. Available on Android and iOS.
Security Applications
Avast Antivirus
Dubbed as “the world’s most trusted free antivirus app”, Avast is a mobile application that pledges to protect your smartphone from viruses and malware. Such dangers are increasingly rampant even without COVID-19; many smartphone users still fall prey to phishing attacks via e-mails, phone calls, infected websites or messages. Available on Android and iOS.
Microsoft Family Safety
Microsoft Family Safety calls to answer the worries of new generation parents. As parents, they are able to use Microsoft Family Safety to set time limits on their children’s screen time usage. Furthermore, they are able to gather informative reports of their children’s screen time usage via ‘color-coded breakdowns’ with infographics. Only available on Microsoft 365.
QR Scanner – Free Safe QR Code Reader, Zero Ads
Local businesses and establishments in some countries (such as Singapore) would require you to scan QR codes before entering their premises for contact tracing purposes. However, there’s always the risk of exposing your phone to malware with ‘rogue’ QR codes. With QR Scanner, this mobile application will ensure that you are directed to safe links and not malicious content. Only available on Android. For Apple Users, the alternative is QR Scanner – No Ads which is available on iOS. Trace Together
Another contact-tracing effort that’s powered by BlueTooth technology, Trace Together is a mobile application introduced by the Singapore government to ‘fight the spread of COVID-1P’ within the community. This mobile application notifies their users immediately if they have been exposed to a COVID-19 case who is also a fellow ‘Trace Together’ user. Available on Android and iOS.
Education Applications
Vivid Books are made for parents who want to promote active learning to their children, specifically for physics. Tutors who wish to make their teaching experiences more entertaining as well can consider this too! This mobile application aims to promote the understanding of complex topics in Physics through interactive Augmented Reality (AR) for children. Currently, this application is only available on iOS. But you can definitely look out for their Android application as it is currently under works!
DoodleMatic
Another fun, educational mobile application to consider is DoodleMatic. Created to entertain and engage in creatively-inclined children, DoodleMatic is the mobile application that allows children to transform their drawings into games. Educators too can use this to enhance their student’s classroom learning experience. Available on Android and iOS.
Nwsty is the news mobile application for you if you are easily overwhelmed by the rapid production of information from the Internet. Inspired by the motto to have users “read less and know more”, Nwsty makes sure that you stay on track with the latest happenings globally by giving you a daily news digest in bite-sized pieces. With this mobile application, you won’t have to experience information burn-out again. Available on Android and iOS.
Game & Entertainment Applications
A literal, pocket-friendly version of the Nintendo Switch’s popular game Animal Crossing – Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is the mobile application version of the much loved carefree game. Popularized during COVID-19, the game allows users like us to ‘enjoy simple pleasures’ through the decoration of our own campsite. Available on Android and iOS. Pokémon Café Mix
For fans of Pokémon, Pokémon Café Mix is the mobile application that entertains by making you run a Pokemon-dedicated cafe. Through the use of unique and enjoyable puzzles, players can prepare drinks and dishes for their Pokémon customers. It is an adorable, mobile application game for all ages. Available on Android and iOS.
Puzzle Aquarium
This mobile application is an alternative for the ones who like puzzles that get progressively challenging with calming graphics. Through this mobile application, rewards come in the form of allowing users to expand their aquarium with different aquatic animals. Available on Android and iOS.
Health Applications
Many students have been required to study remotely due to COVID-19. With Study Bunny: Focus Timer, this mobile application motivates students in an adorable manner to stay focused with their study habits. The more time invested into studying, the more purchases a user can get to feed their ‘bunny’ in the mobile application. Available on Android and iOS.
Avocation – Habit Tracker
As more time is being spent at home, there is more opportunity for us to develop healthy habits. Avocation is the mobile application that aims to be your ‘pocket growth assistant’, to help you kick bad habits and start good ones in a stress-free manner. Available on Android and iOS.
Forest: Stay Focused
Quit Meat – Easiest way to Become Vegan/Vegetarian
Trying a new diet is an alternative for those who are still unable to go or too anxious to use a public gym. Quit Meat is the mobile application that enables you to try a meat-free diet; it also reveals the amount of water and greenhouse gas you have saved by not eating meat. A great method if you want to be environmentally-friendly on a daily basis. Available on Android and iOS.
