In his latest AppDate, SEAN BACHER highlights Mr D Food, Hey Jude, GamesTrader, Namola, Uber with real-time ID check and the updated TomTom Sports App.
Mr D Food
The new Mr D Food app by Mr Delivery lets one get food delivered to their home or office by ordering via their smartphone. The app puts users in touch with over 1 400 restaurants and has drivers waiting to deliver to over 1 900 suburbs around South Africa.
Once an order is placed, a user has the option to pay for the meal via cash or card. They can then track their food via the app in real-time. Delivery fees range depending on the distance the driver needs to travel, the number of restaurants that food has to be collected from and time taken. A few of the restaurants Mr D collects from include Nando’s, Spur, RocoMamas, KFC, Col’Cacchio, Panarottis, Ocean Basket, Simply Asia, Steers, McDonald’s, John Dory’s, Wimpy and Primi.
The app is simple to use, allowing one to search for meals according to the type of food for instance pizza, burgers or seafood, a certain cuisine or via restaurants within a certain radius.
Once ordered, a delivery time is given and the user is given the option to collect bypass delivery and collect the food themselves.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: A free download but delivery fees and meal costs are extra.
Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.
Hey Jude
Hey Jude is a subscription-based service that uses technology combined with human intellect to get one’s to-do list sorted. Using a message-based interface to link a person to one of their trained operators, known as ‘Judes’, a user texts or voice messages their request – any request, from food delivery and travel bookings to restaurant reservations, grocery shopping, gift searching, and paying bills – and they will do the rest. Once a request is made, the Judes will research, find the suppliers, negotiate the prices and even facilitate payment.
Platform: Android and iOS.
Expect to pay: The first three tasks are free, thereafter it is a R200 per month service.
Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.
GamesTrader
Many gamers have a stack of games that they have finished or no longer play and are just sitting there gathering dust. With GamesTrader, gamers can log in, sell their old games, buy “new” second-hand ones and also make straight trades.
GamesTrader offers games for most consoles ranging from the old Nintendo 64 to the newer Xbox One and payments can be made with most major credit cards and Bitcoins.
Platform: Most devices with an Internet connection and web browser.
Expect to pay: Free to sign up.
Stockists: www.gamestrader.co.za
Namola
Namola, a safety and security app for South Africans recently hit 50 000 downloads – putting it at the top of the South African download charts in the app store. The app connects the SAPS and most major privately owned security companies, making response to an incident that much faster than dialling a single emergency number like 10111. All a user needs is a GPS-enabled smartphone. Should trouble arise a single push of a button will dispatch emergency personal in the vicinity to the phone’s GPS location.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: A free download.
Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.
Uber with real-time ID check
In an attempt to deter criminals from pretending to be Uber drivers, the company has introduced Real-Time ID check. The safety feature prompts driver-partners to share a selfie from time to time before collecting passengers. Uber then compares this image to the photograph already on file with the driver’s account. This is achieved through facial recognition. The system first identifies a face, then it builds a feature set by focusing on key features, and finally compares the feature set to the validated image Uber has on file. This all takes place within a few seconds. If the two images don’t match, the account is temporarily blocked while Uber looks into the situation. This helps Uber to ensure in real time that the driver using the app matches the account it has on file.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: A free service.
Stockists: This service doesn’t really affect the user, but makes using an Uber safer.
Updated TomTom Sports App
The new TomTom Sports App helps one get going, move more and stay motivated. It tracks all sports and activities, with progress insights and personal bests. The app has been designed with the help of real athletes to help one reach goals, with personalized feedback. The updated dashboard is easy to read and displays every step, leap, stroke and beat counts in one place. In addition to being available on a mobile device, users can now also access their dashboard via the TomTom website.
In addition to golfing, swimming and walking, the app is now able to track skiing, snowboarding, trail running and hiking.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: A free download, but users must busing a TomTom fitness tracker or watch.
Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device