HomeTagsPosts tagged with "apps"

apps

New research suggests that social media is becoming a "common problem" in Irish marriages, according to The Independent.

Over 3,000 clients took part in a survey in Maynooth over two years which discovered that both men and women find social media and technology "behaviour" causes difficulties in marriages and relationships.

Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service maintains that constant access to technology and phones has taken away the "cooling off" period following an argument.

The Accord has commented that it will alter it's service to accommodate the issue following couples' feedback.

Bishop Denis Nulty, president of Accord and Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, said: "Social media is a huge issue. Pope Francis spoke about this at Croke Park and we need to be digitally conscious."

He elaborated on why the results are vital for the organisation; "We're dictated by gadgets so being clued-in is important."

On the removal of the "cooling-off" period he said: "When you send a text, a tweet or a Whatsapp message, there's no way of pulling it back, and it causes huge heartache for everyone involved."

"As we shape our marriage preparation courses in the future, we'll be taking this into consideration," Bishop Nulty mused.

"We have a low divorce rate in Ireland, and I would like to keep it low. I have no doubt people in Ireland still take marriage very seriously."

16,048 individuals attended the Accord's marriage preparation courses across the nation in 2018, which was down almost 800 from 2017

Accord counsellors separately provided 24,180 counselling sessions to individuals and couples during 2018 throughout the whole island of Ireland, which was less than that of 2017.

The bishop attributes some of the drop in figures to couples attending different private counselling services.

Other "problem areas" included unresolved arguments, inappropriate behaviour during arguments and dissatisfaction with their sexual relationship.

75 per cent of clients who saw data reviewed claim that their relationship improved following counselling.

Trending

The Kardashian crew has signalled the end of their apps.

The change is coming in 2019 and you can kiss goodbye to all the extra Kardashian-Jenner goss.

Those who have subscribed to their $2.99 per month charge for the app – are about to save three dollars-ish every month.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @kardashians on

On Kim Kardashian's website, she made a statement on behalf of herself and her sister Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie and Kendall.

It read: "We've had an incredible experience connecting with all of you through our apps these past few weeks but have made the difficult decision to no longer continue updating in 2019."

"Truly hope you've enjoyed this journey as much as we have, and we look forward to what's ahead," she added.

Subscribes of the app were able to see exclusive content from each of the sisters.

Kendall's segment was all about fashion and Kylie's contribution was, of course, about make-up. 

Kim's content was around beauty, whilst Khloe was the in-house fitness guru and Kourtney's posts were all about health. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on

It doesn't come as a major surprise that the app has come to an end.

In August, the Kardashian ladies announced that their DASH clothing stores would be closing their doors.

The change-up in business comes as their empires expand and their demands draw them elsewhere.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash) on

In a statement released in late summer, Kim said: "We’ve loved running DASH, but in the last few years we’ve all grown so much individually."

"We’ve been busy running our own brands, as well as being moms and balancing work with our families."

"We know in our hearts that it’s time to move on," she ended.

We can't wait to see what's in store for these ladies for 2019. 

Trending

Meditation has been around for centuries, though given the stressful nature of our modern lifestyles, it's possible the practice is more relevant now than ever before. 

It can sometimes seem impossible to find the time to stop and reflect, however, simply taking some time out of your busy day to focus on yourself can do wonders for your body and mind – and it's not as difficult as you might think. 

With a huge range of apps designed to help users conquer stress through meditation and mindfulness, it's never been easier to treat your mind, body and soul to some much needed rest and relaxation.

Here's our top five picks. 

1. Stop, Breath & Think

Designed to help you find peace, anywhere, any time, this handy app offers a wide variety of mindfulness aids including 55+ guided meditations as well as a collection of yoga and accupressure videos.

SB&T allows users to tailor their session according to their current emotional needs while the in built tracker keeps tabs on feelings pre and post meditation and records progress throughout the year.

With programmes designed to focus on stress, anxiety, depression, compassion and sleep, this meditation and mindfulness app has something for everyone.

Stop, Breath & Think is available to download on Android or iPhone.

2. Calm, Meditation to Relax, Focus & Sleep Better 

With an assortment of guided mediations ranging from three to 25 minutes, Calm offers a versatile meditation experience for anyone looking to incorporate mindfulness into their busy schedules.

Users can choose from a number of topics including stress management, deep sleep, self-esteem and loving-kindness.

The app also offers a Daily Calm program, designed to help users ease into their day or unwind before bed.

Calm is available to download on Android or iPhone.

3. Pacifica – Anxiety, Stress & Depression relief

Pacifica has been designed to help users break the ongoing cycle of negative thoughts. 

The program aims to provide people with the tools to manage their stress, aniexty and depression at a pace that is right for them.

Its features a number of audio lessons, mood tracker, thought recording and daily challenges, allowing users to focus on their long term mental health goals while taking their progress just one day at a time. 

Pacifica is available to download on Android or iPhone.

4. Insight Timer

With over 4,500 free guided meditations from over 1,000 practitioners, Insight Timer is the perfect app for anyone who likes to switch up their routine every now and again.

Whether you're looking for a short moment of R&R on your lunch break, or a peacful night's sleep, you're sure to find a meditation that will cater to your needs.

Pefect for beginners and advanced users alike, Insight Timer is available to download on Android or iPhone.

5. Sattva

This app is packed with unique features desinged to inspiring users to practice meditation every single day.

Along with the standard guided meditations, timer and mood trackers, Sattva also features a heart rate monitor and an insight engine which demonstrates exacly how meditation is improving the life of the user.

Savttva is available to download on iPhone.

 

Trending

It's hard to imagine a world without apps. The smartphone is still a relatively new invention, and yet the technology has impacted almost every part of our daily lives.

We use apps to socialise, to finds dates and catch up with old friends. We use apps to practice healthy lifestyles and keep our diet and exercise regimes on track. We use apps for, well, just about everything really. 

However, with the app stores packed with so many 'must-haves', it's hard to know which ones are worthy of our precious phone memory – but never fear, because we've got you covered. 

Every week, we'll bring you our favourite apps across health, beauty, fashion and lifestyle, so you can spend less time searching and more time sorting your life out! 

This week's pick – Gotta Joga 

What is it?

A self-described "mobile yoga studio", this sleek wellness and fitness tool promises users a calm and strengthening yet fun yoga experience.

Created by Anu Visuri, an Anusara-Inspired and Yogamazé graduate yoga teacher, it's selection of easy-to-follow programs make it easy to learn yoga at home or on the go.

Designed to fit around you and your lifestyle, the app offers users a variety of yoga and meditation classes ranging from five to 50 minutes.

How does it work?

When you first open the app, you'll be given the option to select your level – beginner or familiar.

From here, you'll be presented with a number of simple, guided programs that will help you build your strength and fitness over time.

Track your progress using the 'yoga tree' which will grow every time you complete a practice.

Where to get it and how much does it cost?

Gotta Joga is available to download from Google Play and the Apple App Store, and is purchased on a subscription basis.

Some of the in-built programs are available free of charge, however if you wish to unlock the apps entire range of features you'll need to choose one of the following payment plans.

One month: €9.99/ Month

Six months: €49.99 (€8.33/ Month) paid every six months

One year: €79.99 (€3.33/ Month) paid every year

Trending

So, we all know the secret to a hangover-free Sunday morning is actually pretty simple – H20, and lots of it.

And while the responsible adult in us knows this to be true, the irresponsible wine-lover can be a bit forgetful.

But, as always, the technological gods are here to lend a helping hand.

Hydrate Now, a new iPhone app developed by 23-year-old, Jacob Catalona, encourages users to up their aqua intake when out on the town, and while there are numerous hydration apps on the market, none have been designed specifically for hangover prevention.

So, how does it work?

Once the party has started, users simply need to tap the home screen and select how much water they would like to drink over the course of the evening.

The app will send out constant hydration reminders (depending on the frequency you have chosen), thus curing your hangover before it even begins.

Users can chose to be notified from anywhere between every 20 and 100 minutes with messages like “HAVE A GODDAM GLASS OF WATER,” or “Drink water plz” – though it's up to you to actually take the advice.

And while the only real way to prevent a hangover is to abstain from alcohol altogether, we'll know we'll be thankful for this the next time we have a few too many.

Trending

We've all been there – someone does something to get on your nerves, you feel like having a rant and so craft the perfect text message, you press send and enjoy a brief moment of smugness before the overwhelming sense of doom sets in.

Yep. You've sent the text to the exact person you were complaining about and you may as well apply for your Oz visa right now, because you're never leaving the house again.

Well, what if we told you there was a way to delete a text message from somebody's phone before they have read it?

No, really.

Privates, an app available on Apple iOS (Android and windows versions are expected soon), allows users to retract a message they have sent – as long as they get there before the receiver.

What's more, the app also offers a number of customisable 'self-destruct settings' which allows users to choose from three levels of security (Mild, Wild and Insane), which delete unread messages after three, 12 or 24 hours.

Originally created for the transfer of medical records, app creator, Dr Isaac Datikashvili, explained to Metro.co.uk: “I’m very honest about that but it’s better than anything else at maintaining privacy.”

“It’s not impossible but it’s virtually impossible for one person to screen grab or save anything if the security setting is high,’ here referring to the screenshot prevention mechanism which prevents recipients from forwarding, copying or saving your messages.”

This will surely save us from a few embarrassing moments in the future.

Trending

So, are you sick of living vicariously through your friend's Sanpchat stories?

Wish you could be right there with them?

If so, the app's latest update is going to help you do just that (though we're not sure how we feel about it). 

Introducing Snap Map – a new feature that allows you to view your friends location, and the location of other featured stories on a map.

And yep. It's pretty much as stalker-y as it sounds.

The Snap Map is accessed through the camera mode – simply pinch the screen in a 'zoom out' motion and violà – explore stories from around the world.

Once in the map, users can choose whether all friends, some friends, or only themselves can see their location.

Many users have taken to Twitter to criticise the 'creepy' nature of the new feature, and quite frankly, they've got a point.

So, what do you think? Are you on board with the latest update? 

Trending

It's fair to say that one of the reasons Snapchat's presence and popularity grew exponentially in such a short period of time was mainly down to its unique selling point – the disappearing act.

Images sent via the app were only available for a limited amount of time before the media disappeared for all eternity, but that's all changed following an announcement made this week.

As of yesterday, Snapchat users can avail of an 'infinity feature' which allows their friends and followers to view a snap for as long as they choose.

Taking to their blog to explain the rationale behind the switch-up, they said: "Today we’re making a pretty big change to the way you create and send Snaps."

"We’ve all felt the frustration of not being able to fully enjoy a Snap – even after replaying it – and we wanted to give you the option of allowing the recipient to enjoy your Snap as long as they’d like. After your friend finishes viewing the Snap and taps to close it, it will delete as usual."

In addition to this, the powers that be have restructured the layout of their creative tools and included the addition of a magic eraser.

"These changes allow us to continue evolving the Snapchat service and provide a foundation for introducing even more creative tools for making fun Snaps," they said.

Well, this changes everything… potentially.

Trending

Music is one of those things which either brings people together or drives them apart.

So if you’re the kind of person who runs for the hills at the very mention of Harry Styles’ hair, you probably don’t want to find yourself in an intimate situation with an honorary member of the One Direction fan club.

Because of this, the clever people at Tinder and Spotify have teamed up to create a feature which will allow Tinder users to suss out the musical tastes of potential matches before they take the plunge and swipe right.

As well as being able to broadcast a song which “defines you” directly from your Tinder profile, the new feature will help you find potential matches who share your taste in tunes.

When checking out someone else’s Tinder, you will be able to play previews of their top songs and see which artists you have in common.

Oh, and for those who’ve spent the last month secretly listening to the Frozen soundtrack, don’t panic – Tinder will allow you to hide what you’ve been playing until it’s fit for the ears of your crush.

GIFs: Giphy

Trending

Earlier this month High School Musical heart-throb Zac Efron admitted he was left feeling down in the dumps after no one swiped right on his Tinder profile

And while that news is nothing short of concerning – like how on earth will we ever find love if a Hollywood star can't even get a swipe? – Zac's negative experience of the popular dating app is more common than you'd think.

According to a new study from the University of North Texas, Tinder could be lowering peoples' self-esteem and messing with their sense of body image all at the same time.

In one of the first psychological studies to focus primarily on the Tinder platform, researchers found that both male and female users reported less satisfaction with their bodies and looks when compared with non-users but, interestingly, only male Tinder users reported lower levels of self-esteem.

Jessica Strübel – who co-authored the study – said: "Tinder users reported having lower levels of satisfaction with their faces and bodies and having lower levels of self-worth than the men and women who did not use Tinder."

The Assistant Professor explained that Tinder usage was associated with "body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalization of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others and [a] reliance on media for information on appearance and attractiveness".

While Jessica did suggest that Tinder may make people feel like their social interactions are disposable and increase their awareness of perceived bodily flaws, the researchers did stress that the results could also be caused by people who already have self-esteem issues being drawn to the app to begin with.

Always remember no matter how many matches you get, you are flawless!

Feat image: Facebook

Gifs: giphy.com

Trending

by

Listen guys, our phones are practically part of our bodies at this stage, and if you say they're not, you're telling a fib.

Whether you mainly use yours for calling, texting, gaming, social media or trying to organise a mini-reunion on Whatsapp for the girls at the weekend (which never ends up happening), there is something that you will always need your phone for.

So when our batteries run out, it's not ideal at all. In fact, I'm going to say that we can feel a little bit lost without them, right?

Well, AVG's Android App Performance and Trend Report tested and discovered what apps are draining our batteries… and you're not going to like it:

1. Whatsapp

2. Instagram

3. Facebook

4. Facebook Messenger

5. Google Maps

Also included in the top ten is The Weather Channel, WeChat, ChatOn, Kik and Blackberry Messenger (but who uses them anyway?!).

Time to turn off those Insta notifications, ladies.

Trending

by

If you are an iPhone user, you are more than likely aware of those annoying non-deletable apps that plague your phone. 

We have never needed to check the Stocks and we really don't know what the Wallet app does? Oh and we have enough friends already without the Find Friends application (but your guess is as good as ours as to how it works). 

Well, instead of trying to hide these apps by putting them all into a folder and doing your best to forget about them, one tech savvy YouTuber has finally given us a simple solution to rid ourselves of these useless apps for good. 

Now unfortunately you cannot actually delete the apps permanently from your phone (curse you Apple!), but you CAN hide them permanently from your home screen meaning you don't ever have to actually look at them again. 

Hurrah!

Tech vlogger, videosdebarriquito, demonstrates in this handy little video exactly how you can do this. 

Careful though, because he doesn't show you how to get them back once they are hidden! 

 

Trending