What’s up! Here comes a Weekly Roundup to save your time so you don’t have to go around chasing after news. Google has been starring in most of the News by offering you a new way to check out in stores, making a new partnership to fight Zika virus, and also providing developers with a new tool. Apple also makes a great contribution by battling the first reported Mac OS X ransomware and proving its customers a new channel of communication. We also have an innovative movie timeline as Design Inspiration, and the App of the Week, able to provide you with intriguing random messages.

Grab a snack and join us!

News

Google’s ‘Hands Free’: Checking out? Forget about reaching for your wallet or phone

 

Imagine you’re in a store and wishing to check out. Credit cards were created so you don’t have to take out cash for that and mobile apps were created so you don’t have to use your credit card. What if you could use your phone, without reaching for it in your pocket or purse? A few days ago, Google started rolling out a program — called Hands Free — , which offers a way of having your phone automagically detected by a point of sales system . Click here to know more about Hands Free.

 

Google combines forces with UNICEF to battle Zika virus

 

In an effort to anticipate the spread of the Zika virus, Google’s engineers are working with United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to map the virus and identify potential outbreaks. The partnership includes Google providing $1 million to UNICEF to help their volunteers on the field, building a platform to track, process and analyze data on possible outbreaks, and also updating its products to make information widely accessible. Check here to know more about the Zika virus and this partnership.

 

Meet ‘Resizer’, Google’s new URL-testing tool

 

If you’re a Web designer or a developer, you’re gonna love Google’s new tool. Once you input a URL, Resizer allows you to test your responsive design in various screen sizes at a time —  and it works with any URL! Read more on this awesome tool here.

 

Apple launched a Twitter account to answer your calls for help

 

Yep, you read that right! If you’re an Apple’s customer, you know that sometimes it may be difficult to get a quick response when you’re crying for their help. Well, chill out, for these days are over. Apple is finally able to answer for your call in a more modern fashion: they launched a Twitter account for that purpose. Besides helping customers with troubleshooting, @AppleSupport will be giving its followers tips and tricks about Apple devices. Read more about it here.

 

Mac OS X users victims of first ransomware

 

After the L.A. hospital had its servers shut down by a ransomware last month, now it was Mac OS X users’ turn to be victims of this kind of malware. This time, users of the BitTorrent client Transmission were unfortunate to download an infected version of the software, receiving the KeRanger malware along with it. Everything would run smoothly until three days after, when KeRanger would encrypt the user’s hard drive and demand payment to unlock the data. That’s the first time this kind of malware has been reported on OS X. As soon as informed of the issue, Apple revoked Transmission’s certificate, making the open-source app no longer able to be installed. Click here to read more on this ransomware and how the story unfolds.

Design Inspiration

Based on a True Story?

 

Based on a True True Story? is an interactive data visualization tool that compares Hollywood movies that are based on a true story with the actual story for its overall truthiness. The movie timeline is separated by scene blocks with a truthiness label — ranging from false to true — and a description explaining what are the discrepancies between both versions. Its excellent research and information design work makes navigation and visualization very easy to grasp and understand.

P.S.: Enjoy with caution, because, you know… SPOILER ALERT!

App of the Week

Rando (iOS)

 

Ever wanted to start a conversation with someone and had no ideia how? Here’s an app to help you out! Rando is a messaging app that generates messages randomly and says whatever the hell it wants to. The user has three options: photo (which comes from your camera roll — run to the hills!), GIF (powered by Giphy), and quote (from a non-identified source). Read more on this intriguing app here.