Apps
Google turns Android into world’s largest earthquake detection system
Using technology to make a difference

2020 is the epitome of chaos with a pandemic, fear of cyber warfare, and government incapability. Amid all the negativity, Google has some refreshing news. Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, will now leverage its reach to help detect an earthquake.
Pretty much every Android phone today sports an accelerometer, a sensor that can help detect seismographic movement. When this sensor is clubbed along with the user’s GPS data, researchers can use the phone as a live seismometer.
The University of California-Berkeley, along with funding from the state of California has launched a new app called MyShake. The app can use the phone’s onboard sensors to feed data in a massive network of devices that are constantly monitoring seismographic movement across the globe.
Using this same technology, Google is taking a step forward. Instead of relying on an app, it’s incorporating Android Earthquake Alerts System on every phone running on Google Play Services. The system is being touted as “the world’s largest earthquake detection network.”
The company studied historical accelerometer readings during earthquakes and found they could give some users up to a minute of notice. Since the feature is being rolled out via Play Services, the alerting system will be available on all active phones within a few weeks. The user won’t have to depend on the software update roll-out.
“We are on a path to delivering earthquake alerts wherever there are smartphones,” said Richard Allen, director of the University of California-Berkeley’s seismological lab and visiting faculty at Google over the last year.
Proactive alerts shall be limited to California for now. Google added that “over the coming year, you can expect to see the earthquake alerts coming to more states and countries using Android’s phone-based earthquake detection.”


A listening party is still fun especially whenever a favorite artist releases a new album. Hosting one can be difficult, though. Sometimes, you need additional software. Now, Spotify is making listening parties easier with a native feature coming to the app.
Starting today, Spotify is rolling out Jam. The feature will allow up to 32 users into a single listening session. It’s more than just listening, too. Users in the session can queue up their songs to the playlist. They can also decide which device they want the music to play from.
Though both free and Premium subscribers can use the feature, only paying users can host a Jam. Hosts can also manage the members participating in a session and the songs queued up. Likewise, they can give the same privileges to others participating in the session.
Users can start a Jam session through the three-dot menu on a playlist or the speaker icon when playing a song. After creating a sessions, users have different options to invite others into the session: by connecting to the same device or Wi-Fi connection, or by generating a link or QR code.
The feature is slowly rolling out to users starting today. Spotify is adding more features. While the additions round out the difference between free and Premium subscriptions, it also prepares for the coming of a Hi-Fi tier coming to the platform soon.
SEE ALSO: Spotify is increasing its prices all over the world

How much is a date worth to you? For most people, US$ 500 is way more than enough for a fancy night with a special partner. Tinder, however, thinks US$ 500 should be the baseline for its most dedicated users. The dating app has rolled out a premium subscription tier worth US$ 500 per month.
Though Tinder is still a free service, the app also offers more features locked behind different subscription tiers. The regular lineup includes Tinder+, Gold, and Premium tiers. Now, the app has a fourth paid tier, and it’s a pricey one.
Rolling out exclusively to only the top 1 percent of users, Tinder Select will cost users US$ 500 per month. Invited users will still need to apply to avail of the new tier. According to an interview with Bloomberg, the company says that the tier will include more premium features such as “’VIP’ search, matching, and conversation.”
It’s hard to say how much more value that the tier will offer subscribers. After all, only a very small handful of users will have access to the tier. As always, users can keep using the app at no cost.
Despite the addition of new features over the past months, Tinder has struggled to keep up with the industry. The Match Group also has other apps in its portfolio including Hinge. Other companies, such as Bumble, are also competing against Tinder.
SEE ALSO: Tinder now lets users specify pronouns and relationship type

YouTube has unveiled a new video-editing app that leverages the power of AI technology to help creators. The beta version of YouTube Create is now available on Android in select markets.
The app is free of charge and is designed to make video production for Shorts or even lengthier content much more simple and easier.
Among the app’s tools are:
- precision editing and trimming
- automatic captioning
- voiceover capabilities
- access to a library of filters, effects, and transitions
- royalty-free music with beat matching technology
More services on the YouTube Create app utilize AI technology like the assistive search on Creator Music and automatic dubbing with Aloud.
Meanwhile, users will be able to test Dream Screen on Shorts later in the year.
Dream Screen will be an experimental feature that allows anyone to create an AI-generated video or image background by simply typing an idea into a prompt, to complement their Shorts.
In the future, YouTube is also looking at users being able to mix existing videos or content with this feature.
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