Apps

9 new Memoji stickers and what they mean in the time of coronavirus

There’s an appropriate Memoji for the guy who ghosted you 💁🏻

Published

April 1, 2020

Chay Lazaro

Now more than ever, most of our communication has gone virtual. Identifying and expressing how we feel at a time like this can be difficult, especially when everything is exclusively done via messaging.

With the new iOS 13.4 update, you get 9 additional Memoji stickers that you can use to react to the different messages you’re sending and receiving in the time of coronavirus.

1. Person behind a computer

Person behind a computer is the new work from home symbol. Wear it (send it) like a badge of honor — you are, after all, doing humanity a favor by staying home.

2. Huffing with anger

Huffing with anger is how we react when we learn that other people are not self-isolating, not practicing social distancing, or not taking the necessary precautions to keep themselves and their community safe and healthy.

3. Person with tipping hand

Person with tipping hand is the humble brag Memoji. Send it right after the photo of the sumptuous meal you made for yourself, when you’ve had a productive day, or when you feel proud of finally doing spring cleaning!

4. Gesturing no

Gesturing no is the only correct response when you get THE text. You know, that message from the guy who ghosted you but suddenly remembered to respond 10 months later because, well, he’s probably alone, bored, and is *hopefully* in quarantine like everyone else.

5. Smiling face with three hearts

Smiling face with three hearts is the Memoji your friends, family, and of course, your crush deserve to receive when they check up on you and wish you well.

6. Party horn

Party horn is what you should send when you and your friends finally agree to do a virtual date — whether that’s a Netflix party, happy hour, or a book club. Express your excitement about hanging out, albeit via FaceTime, with the proper Memoji.

7. Rolling eyes

Rolling eyes is appropriate when we see insensitive things posted on social media, or when we get a text from the toxic ex.

8. Screaming in fear

Screaming in fear is a cute way to express that panic you’re feeling during situations like not being able to buy rice from the supermarket, or when your friend comes up with horrendous ideas like cutting her own bangs!

9. Folded hands

Folded hands is what we attach to messages of good news at a time like this, no matter how shallow they may be. Alternatively, it’s also an appropriate Memoji to send when you’re feeling zen after a virtual yoga or meditation session.

It will be a while before we get a new set of Memoji stickers, but here’s to hoping we get the face mask one 😷 really soon!

Related Topics:Apple coronavirus Covid-19 iMessage iOS iOS 13.4 Memoji

Apps

Reddit might force third-party apps to close

One developer is being charged US$ 20 million

Published

June 1, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Though the platform works differently, Reddit is much like other social media platforms. For one, it relies on users signing up for the service to interact with one another through threads. However, Reddit is also similar by offering its API to third parties. If you’re not happy with using the original website or app, developers can create apps tailored to optimize the experience. Unfortunately, those might soon go away.

Recently, Reddit announced a round of changes coming to its API rules. Starting June 19, the platform will charge third parties for access to their API. In a nutshell, any developer who wants to continue offering a tailored Reddit experience must pay up to access the website.

According to the company, the changes are a result of emerging AI technologies which leverage Reddit for language learning. Naturally, the company isn’t happy with being used for free, resulting in a paid scheme coming soon.

Unfortunately, the pricing scheme isn’t affordable for smaller developers who just want to offer a cleaner experience of the website. Apollo, one of the most popular third-party alternatives to Reddit’s main app, recently announced that Reddit is charging US$ 20 million per year to keep the app running as is. Christian Selig, the app’s developer, confirms that the figure is just too much.

Other apps have not disclosed their discussions with the platform. However, their users have already lamented the impending doom of third-party apps and their involvement with the platform as a whole.

For their part, Reddit says that Selig’s figure only reflects a standard rate, rather than a specialized one as discussed with Apollo. The company remains adamant that it wants to be equitable and civil towards third-party apps.

SEE ALSO: Reddit acquires Dubsmash

Apps

Apple Music Classical is now on Android

Before an iPad app can come out

Published

May 31, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

A few months ago, Apple released Apple Music Classical. Though it caters only a specific genre, the app made a lot of waves because of what its existence implies for the future of music streaming. Now, if you’re a classical fan but living on Android, the new app is now available from the Play Store.

As long as you subscribe to Apple Music, you can download and install Apple Music Classical to make the most out of Apple’s tailored algorithm. While the app won’t offer anything new in terms of content, it boasts of a better algorithm to sort out the exact performance you want of a musical piece.

The app allows users to search based on a lot of different parameters including composer, performance date, and venue, among others. Besides the advanced algorithm, the app also offers high-fidelity audio for the discerning classical fan. While the regular app already offers the latter, Apple Music can also benefit from an advanced algorithm to help curate its mountain of content.

Now, the same experience is available for Android users. Of note, the Android version arrives before an optimized version for the iPad and the Mac. However, since Primephonic (the base app underneath Apple Music Classical) is already available on Android, it should be a no-brainer that it comes as easily to Android.

Apps

Microsoft Teams can now summarize meetings using AI

No more catching up

Published

May 31, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Have you ever had a meeting that could have been an email? We all have. Now, Microsoft is adding something new to your lexicon of corporate exasperation: meetings that could have been an Intelligent Recap.

Today, Microsoft Teams has released Intelligent Recap as a generally available feature for users. The new feature uses artificial intelligence to compress a meeting down to minutes, recommended tasks, and notes. Oh, and it’s all generated by AI, too. It won’t need another person to manually take down minutes and take notes for those who want to catch up.

For those who still want to watch a video of the meeting, Teams will also automatically add in tabs on the video to indicate who talks when. The app will eventually add in a way to organize a video according to chapters. The organization tool will separate chunks based on topic, rather than only by speaker.

The feature is now available in English. Microsoft is also working on other languages for the future.

Meetings are part and parcel of today’s corporate world. However, not everyone always has the time to attend every meeting. The ability to catch up to meetings in only a few minutes is an invaluable tool when you’d rather focus on tasks.