AppDate: Pay-it-forward with uKheshe

uKheshe

uKheshe, a pay-it-forward type app developed by Jini Guru, allows users to tip car guards, pay gardeners or offer people small amounts of money when they don’t have any spare change lying around. The app works with a simple tap of a QR code. The person being tipped needs to have a uKheshe QR card that is linked to their cellphone and the person paying needs to have the app installed on their phone.

A unique feature of this service is that the recipient does not need a bank account. A simple cell phone capable of USSD will suffice.

The payer selects the amount they wish to pay, then scans the QR code. The recipient is able to check their balance and withdraw cash by using the USSD code *120*82274# following the instructions and visiting the nearest Pick n Pay store. App users can top up their uKheshe balance via credit or debit card.

Platform: Android

Expect to pay: A free download: 

Stockists: The app can be downloaded here and recipients can sign up for the card directly from the uKheshe website here.

BitterWorld

Instead of expressing your frustrations with sub-quality services and products on Facebook, there is now an app that allows you to do it without clogging up friends’ timelines. The BitterWorld app is specifically designed for users to tag companies and connect with people who have had similar issues. The app includes a skull and crossbones rating system, and offers the ability to post images, videos and a store’s location.

According to the app developers, once you have shared your thoughts and feelings, you start to relax. Doubtful, but many people may “relax” once their rants are made public.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: A free download.

Stockists: Download the iOS version here and the Android app here.

Stash 

Stash, an app that invests small amounts of money in users banks accounts, has recently changed its policies in line with Google’s new privacy requirements. In the past, the app would use the bank’s transactional SMSs to detect every swipe of a debit, credit or cheque card. It would then collect spare change and invest it in a tax-free savings account.

Now users will have to manually select how much money they want to stash. The new “Daily Stashing” feature  allows users to stash from R5 a day to R100.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: A free download.

Stockists: Visit the Liberty website here to download the app suited to your device.

WPS Office

When you are on the move it is not always feasible to start up your notebook for one or two quick changes to Microsoft Office documents sent to you.

WPS is an Office Suite application that is fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The app also allows for the editing of PDFs, text documents and Google docs.

Users can also convert Office documents into PDFs and then share them with colleagues. Data encryption is offered and documents can be uploaded directly to the Cloud Drive.

The app’s user interface is clutter-free and very intuitive – allowing one to draw circles around errors and make changes directly from a mobile device.

Platform: Android

Expect to pay: A free download.

Stockists: The app can be downloaded from the Google Play store here.

Yoosee

With Internet security cameras becoming as commonplace as fridges in homes, the market is flooded with imports that don’t come with their own monitoring systems. The Yoosee app is designed to bridge that gap by giving users the ability to connect almost any IP camera to their mobile phone and activate them when not at home. The app offers notifications when the camera senses motion and allows one to zoom and pan.

Once a camera has been activated users can take images and even record directly to their phone – although this will use quite a bit of data.

Yoosee also allows for multiple cameras to be connected and up to six users can be connected to each camera.

Platform: Android, iOS and Windows Phone

Expect to pay: A free download.

Stockists: Visit the Yoosee website here and download the app suited to your device.