I’m not a morning person. Brain and muscle functions kick in around nine. And only thanks to strong coffee. But there’s an app to help with this predicament.

Needless to say, alarm clocks are not my favoured method of waking up. No tone, song or nature sound effect, whether it be shrieking seagulls, waterfalls, waves or wind chimes, can ease me into a new day painlessly.

Turbo Alarm, a seemingly popular and efficient app, promises to take the torture out of your standard smartphone alarm.

First off – it’s free and promises not to inundate your screen with ads. It also promises to be “ultra customizable with tons of options and configurations”.

Sure, it has all the usual options: adjusting volume, different alarm tones, but it can also wake you up with a different song every morning. No longer will you be startled awake by Bohemian Rhapsody for every day of the year. Now you can throw in a few other Queen hits to start your day with a bang.

So far, so good, but the proof is in the pudding. The deciding factor for me would be the snooze, mute and disable function. Turbo Alarm gives you more options than most. The coolest of these, especially during notorious Western Cape winter months, is turning if off by switching on the light. Easier ways to silence your dream interrupter are shaking the phone and drawing various shape combinations on your phone.

Other features include:

★ Choose a folder with songs or your playlist as a tone and a different song will be played each day.
★ When you set the alarm Turbo Alarm shows the weather forecast for the time when the alarm rings.
★ Mini game to stop alarm definitely.
★ Security Alarm which rings again if you still are at home.
★ Do you want to wake up little by little? Then, select incremental volume and the time to reach the maximum.
★ Select the way the device vibrate when the alarm rings: relaxed, normal, rapidly or none.
★ You can choose the way to finish or snooze the alarm: switching the room light on, shaking the device, drawing a square or triangle, sliding a bar, long press, short press or just a big or a small button.
★ Simulate the sunrise in your bedroom with your favourite colour.
★ Decremented snooze interval.
★ Widget with list of active alarms.
★ You can limit max snooze times.
★ Anti-sleepyhead mode to wake you up even those days you are really tired.
★ Customizable background image.

THE VERDICT:

If customisability is important to you, Turbo Alarm will make you a happy, perky riser. To some extent the multitude of options almost seems to be its drawback and you have to ask yourself if they’re really necessary to fulfil the basic task of getting you out of bed in the morning.

Turbo Alarm is available for free on Android.

Ek is nie `n oggendmens nie. Brein- en spierfunksie skop eers nege-uur in. Met die hulp van sterk koffie natuurlik. Maar daar is `n toepassing om te help.

Jy kan jou in dink hoe groot my liefde vir wekkers is. Dit maak nie saak watter toon, liedjie of byklank uit die natuur, of dit nou krysende meeue, watervalle, branders of wind chimes is, niks kan my pynloos die nuwe dag inlei nie.

Turbo Alarm, blykbaar ʼn populêre en effektiewe toepassing, beloof om die jou standaard selfoon alarm se vermoëns te oortref. 

Eerstens is dit gratis en bevat dit geen advertensies wat op jou reeds teer nerwe te werk nie. Dit beloof ook om super aanpasbaar met opsies en konfigurasies te wees. 

Ja, dit het al die standaard opsies: volume wat aanpas hoe langer jy neem om te reageer, verskillende alarm tone, ens. Maar dit kan jou ook elke oggend wakker maak met ʼn nuwe liedjie. Dink net, jy hoef nie meer vir 200+ oggende van die jaar wakker te skrik met Bohemian Rhapsody nie, maar jy kan elke oggend met `n ander Queen-treffer wakkerword.

Vir my is die bepalende faktor egter die snooze, mute en disable funksies. En dis hier waar Turbo Alarm aanloklik begin lyk. Die toepassing gee vir jou meer opsies as die meeste ander wekker-toepassins. Jy kan byvoorbeeld jou alarm stel sodat dit net reageer as jy die lig aanskakel – ʼn besondere handige opsie in ons Wes-Kaap wintermaande. Makliker maniere om jou rus en vrede te verleng, is deur die foon te skud, verskeie patrone daarop te teken of ʼn kombinasie van nommers of kolle te druk op jou foonskerm.

Addisionele funksies sluit in:

★ Kies ʼn lêer met liedjies of jou speellys as jou alarmtoon en jy sal elke oggend met ʼn ander liedjie wakkergemaak word. 
★ Wanneer jy jou alarm instel, sal dit ook die weervoorspelling wys vir die tyd wanneer die alarm sal afgaan. 
★ Mini-speletjie om die alarm tydelik te stop.  
★ Sekuriteitsalarm wat lui as jy nogsteeds by die huis is.
★ Wil jy eerder geleidelik wakkerword? Kies dan die geleidelike volume en die tydperk wanneer dit op sy maksimum moet wees.  
★ Kies die manier waarop die toestel vibreer: rustig, normaal, vinnig of geen. 
★ Jy kan kies op watter wyse jy die alarm wil stilmaak: deur die kamerlig aan te skakel, die toestel te skud, ʼn vierkant of driehoek op die skerm te tik, ʼn dwarsbalk te sleep, lank of kort te druk of ʼn klein of groot knoppie te druk.
★ Simuleer die sonskyn in jou kamer met jou gunsteling kleur. 
★ Verminderende sluimer-intervalle. 
★ Widget met ʼn lys van aktiewe alarms.
★ Beperk die kere wat jy mag sluimer. 
★ Anti-sleepyhead modus om seker te maak jy word wakker op daai dae wanneer jy ekstra moeg is.
★ Aanpasbare agtergrond

DIE UITSLAG

Indien aanpasbaarheid vir jou belangrik is, sal Turbo Alarm jou oggendroetine ietwat meer prettig maak. Dit voel egter of die verskeidenheid funksionaliteit ook tot die toepassing se nadeel kan strek. Is dit alles werklik nodig is om die eenvoudige taak, om jou uit die bed uit te kry in die oggend, te verrig?

Turbo Alarm is gratis beskikbaar op Android. 

It’s 6:08 in the morning. Seconds ago you were fast asleep and oblivious to the rest of the world. Until your cell phone alerted you of a new message.

Someone, who claims to know you, has given you a one star rating on an online app. Additionally she’s also reviewed your personal and romantic life and the outcome is not exactly favourable.

Sounds like a clip from a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it? Only it’s not. In less than a week, this could be a reality when Nicole McCullough and Julia Cordray unleash their controversial app, Peeple, on the world.

A cloud of inauspiciousness hovers above Peeple since the announcement early in October.

Initially you would be notified if any negative comments were listed on the app. You then have the opportunity to convince your critic that he or she is wrong – you have 48 hours to accomplish this prickly task. If your negotiation skills prove unsuccessful, you can still defend yourself on the platform. Negative comments will not be removed: in short, you have little say.

After overwhelming criticism in the media – particularly the breeding ground Peeple will create for bullying and harassment – the app’s quickly changed it’s approach.

A prominent article in the Washington Post even led to the prompt removal of Peeple‘s website, Facebook page and Twitter accounts.

At the moment it is marketed as an app encouraging positive feedback – a “positive revolution”, as the website so optimistically states.

Recently Cordray stated on LinkedIn that no person will be listed without their consent. The 48 waiting period for removing negative comments is no longer applicable. If you do not approve a comment, it will not be posted.

Whether Peeple changes it’s procedures or approach, the real impact of an app that intrudes on human rights, will only truly be felt once it’s in operation.

Clearly there is already enormous opposition. A petition to ban Peeple accumulated more than 7000 signatures last week. Two parodies already exist: “Sheeple,” and “Meet Peeple”. Even satirist John Oliver commented in his unique, outspoken, rant-like style.

Peeple in the media: http://www.theguardian.com | http://www.latimes.com | http://www.forbes.com | http://arstechnica.com | http://www.mybroadband.co.za

Dis 6:08 in die oggend. Sekondes gelede het jy heerlik geslaap; onbewus van die res van die wêreld se bedrywighede. Jou selfoon het ander planne. `n Boodskap. 

Iemand het vir jou een ster gegee op `n aanlyn-toepassing. Jou persoonlike en romantiese vermoëns is beoordeel en dit lyk nie goed nie.

`n Toneel uit `n wetenskapfiksie fliek? Nee. Teen die einde van volgende week sal dié scenario `n realiteit wees wanneer Nicole McCullough en Julia Cordray hulle kontroversiële toepassing, Peeple, op die wêreld loslaat.

`n Wolk van ongunstigheid hang bo Peeple sedert die bekendstelling vroeg in Oktober. 

Aanvanklik sou negatiewe kommentaar verskyn, waarna jy, as beoordeelde,  in kennis gestel word. Jy kry 48 uur om jou beoordeler te oortuig dat hy/sy verkeerd is of jouself te verdedig op Peeple. Negatiewe kommentaar word nie verwyder nie en in kort: jy het nie veel sê nie. 

Na oorweldigende kritiek in die media  – spesifiek oor die gunstige platform wat Peeple skep vir teistering en afknouery – het die toepassing se benadering vinnig verander. ‘n Prominente artikel in die Washington Post het gelei daartoe dat Peeple se webwerf, Facebook-bladsy en Twitterrekening spoedig verwyder is.

Dit word nou eerder bemark as `n toepassing wat gemik is op positiewe terugvoer – `n “positive revolution”, soos die webwerf tans aandui. 

Cordray skryf op LinkedIn dat geen persoon gelys sal word sonder hul toestemming nie. Die 48-uur wagperiode om negatiewe kommentaar te verwyder is nie meer van toepassing nie. Indien jy nie `n kommentaar goedkeur nie, sal dit nie geplaas word nie.   

Of Peeple sy prosedures en aanslag verander of nie, die werklike effek van `n toepassing wat soveel inbreuk maak op menseregte, sal eers gevoel word as dit in werking is.

Dat daar geweldig baie opposisie teen Peeple is, is duidelik. `n Petisie om die toepassing te verban het vroeër die week meer as 7000 handtekeninge versamel. Twee parodieë is reeds geskep: “Sheeple,” en “Meet Peeple”. Selfs die uitgesproke satirikus John Oliver  het, op sy eiesoortige manier, kommentaar gelewer.

Peeple in die media: http://www.theguardian.com | http://www.latimes.com | http://www.forbes.com | http://arstechnica.com | http://www.mybroadband.co.za

Whether you’re escaping the cold and going on holiday somewhere warmer or have to wait till December, planning a holiday is no small feat.

However, you’re in luck, because as we know, there’s an app for everything. Even a few to ensure your trip to Addo this July goes according to plan.

1. Tourism Radio’s City Guides 

This app is available both locally and internationally, so you can also use it when traveling overseas. The guides include information for more than 1500 sights, whether historical, cultural, geographical or which activities you can take part it. It covers 24 international cities.

When you approach one of the listed sights, audio will be activated automatically and text will be displayed. The app utilises your phone’s GPS to provide this information.

The best feature is the ability to use guides offline and therefore save on data usage. Install the app and run an update before you travel.

The Tourism Radio’s City Guides app is available for free on Android and iOS.

2. Africa: Live  

If you like stalking wild animals with you binoculars, the Africa: Live app is the ideal investment for your smart phone.

This live animal watching map will show you which wild animals are close to you at that particular moment. It also provides a platform for you to share your observations with other safari goers.

Additional detailed maps of most of the major parks in South Africa can also be bought. Perfect for your next family trip to the Kruger.

 [SOURCES: www.travelground.com, www.htxt.co.za, www.news24.com, www.southafrica.net]

Of jy dié wintervakansie die koue ontduik en erens warmer gaan skuil en of jy moet uithou tot Desember, om `n vakansie te beplan is nie vir sissies nie.

Met `n toepassing en webwerf vir alles onder die son, is dit nie verbasend dat daar ook verskeie is om jou trippie Addo toe sonder enige insidente te laat verloop nie.

 1. Tourism Radio’s City Guides 

Hierdie toepassing is beskikbaar internasionaal en plaaslik en kan dus gebruik word as jy oorsee ook reis. Die gidse sluit inligting in vir meer as 1500 besienswaardighede, onder andere oor geskiedenis, kultuur, geografie, aktiwiteite en dek 24 internasionale stede.

Sodra jy naby een van hierdie besienswaardighede kom, sal oudio outomaties begin speel en teks sal gewys word. Dit maak gebruik van GPS om hierdie inligting aan jou te bied, maar een van die grootste voordele daarvan is dat jy nie aanlyn hoef te wees en gevolglik data hoef te gebruik nie. Installeer die toepassing bloot en dateer dit op net voordat jy op reis gaan.

 Die Tourism Radio’s City Guides toepassing is gratis beskikbaar op Android en iOS.

 2. Africa: Live  

As jy hou van wilde diere afloer met jou verkyker, is die Africa: Live app die ideale belegging vir jou slimfoon.

 [BRONNE: www.travelground.com, www.htxt.co.za, www.news24.com, www.southafrica.net]