This Week in Apps: COVID-19 contact tracing apps, virtual dating on the rise, Quibi makes a debut

Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the Extra Crunch series that recaps the latest OS news, the applications they support and the money that flows through it all.

The app industry is as hot as ever, with a record 204 billion downloads in 2019 and $120 billion in consumer spending in 2019, according to App Annie’s “State of Mobile” annual report. People are now spending 3 hours and 40 minutes per day using apps, rivaling TV. Apps aren’t just a way to pass idle hours — they’re a big business. In 2019, mobile-first companies had a combined $544 billion valuation, 6.5x higher than those without a mobile focus.

In this Extra Crunch series, we help you keep up with the latest news from the world of apps, delivered on a weekly basis.

This week we’re continuing to look at how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the world of mobile applications, including Apple and Google’s plans to team up on a contact tracing platform and other COVID-19 apps worldwide. We’re also looking at how WhatsApp is fighting fake news, and how home quarantines are impacting online grocery and dating applications. In non-COVID-19 news, we look at Quibi’s debut, Facebook’s new app for couples and a possible iOS version of Android’s “Slices,” among other things.

Coronavirus Special Coverage

Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 tracing tools

Apple and Google announced on Friday a plan to join forces to create a decentralized tracing tool to help people determine if they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The first phase of the project is an API that public health agencies can integrate into their own apps. This will be followed by a system-level contact tracing system that works across iOS and Android and is opt-in. The system will involve transmitting an anonymous ID over Bluetooth. The servers will relay your last 14 days of rotating IDs to other devices that look for a match based on time spent and distance between two devices. If a match is found, you’re notified so you can get tested and self-quarantine.

The APIs will be available in May, while the Bluetooth-based system will be released in the months ahead.

Other COVID-19 apps in the news

  • EU suggests standardization: This week, the EU began pushing for its 27 nations to develop common standards for coronavirus tracking technologies that would make apps interoperable or even perhaps develop a single app to be used across the bloc, Bloomberg reported. Today, multiple developers in the U.K., Germany and elsewhere are working on mobile phone apps to track people who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus, but the data will be harder to aggregate and understand in its fractured state.
  • France to develop a contact-tracing app: France is officially working on a smartphone app to slow the spread of COVID-19, by tracking people living in France. The app will leverage the PEPP-PT protocol, which will involve an open standard using BLE to identify other phones running the app.
  • How Chinese apps handled COVID-19: A post from Dan Grover analyzes how Chinese apps from major tech companies like Baidu, WeChat, Alipay and others worked to help people get through the coronavirus crisis by offering statistics, e-medicine, tools for quarantine, e-commerce and tools to check your exposure. By comparison, the U.S. has largely just added PSAs from the CDC and WHO to their platforms, instead of having offered more robust solutions. The pros and cons of both are debated from an app-centric point of view, which makes for interesting reading from a more technical perspective.
  • COVID-19 symptom checker from startup Zoe arrives in U.S.:  A free iOS and Android application called COVID Symptom Tracker was originally developed in partnership with food science startup Zoe and released first in the U.K. After a million downloads, the app is now launching in the U.S.
  • Stanford Medicine app helps first responders get tested: Stanford, in partnership with Apple, launched an app that helps first responders get access to drive-thru coronavirus tests. This includes front-line workers like police officers, firefighters and paramedics. The service is limited to Santa Clara and San Mateo counties in California for now, but will later expand to other states.

WhatsApp imposes forwarding limits to fight fake COVID-19 news

Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images

Facebook-owned WhatsApp this week introduced new limits on message forwards in order to fight the spread of misinformation on its app. Now any message that’s already been forwarded five or more times will see a new limit that will prevent it from being sent to more than one contact at a time. The move follows a change last year that limited users from forwarding a message to more than five users at once, which reduced message volume of forwards globally by 25%.

The company explained the change by noting that all forwarding isn’t bad, but increases in forwarding can feel overwhelming and contribute to the spread of misinformation. “We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation,” the company said.

Virtual dating grows amid COVID-19 pandemic

With people stuck at home under government lockdowns and self-quarantines, you may think that mobile dating apps would be suffering. Instead, they’re seeing a surge in activity, reports indicate. AdWeek took a look at how the apps have embraced virtual dating and other efforts to help their users connect even when they can’t meet in person.

The report found that Hinge, which reported a 30% increase in users in March over the earlier part of the year, launched a “date from home” menu that allows users to go on a digital date. OkCupid, also up 30% in messaging during the past few weeks, has added questions about virtual dating in order to match users interested in the process. Tinder, meanwhile, said daily conversations were up 20% globally and 19% in the U.S., and conversation length was longer (25% and 8%, respectively) during the pandemic. The company made its traveling feature Passport free through April so users could date outside their local area. Bumble is leveraging its built-in voice and video chat service to allow for virtual dates, and reports a 93% increase in voice call and video chat usage from March 13, with calls averaging 30 minutes.

These changes to dating apps may help boost their popularity and usage even when government lockdowns end, as they offer a safer way to meet strangers for the first time, rather than arranging a meet-up in public. They can also help people get the initial first date awkwardness and the screening process out of the way, before deciding to go on a “real” date.

Walmart Grocery tops Amazon as online grocery shopping grows

Record demand for online grocery shopping amid the COVID-19 pandemic has sent the apps for grocery pickup and delivery services up the charts. Walmart Grocery, as a result, hit an all-time high in downloads — grabbing the No. 1 position across all Shopping apps in the U.S. on April 5, 2020, and surpassing Amazon by 20%, according to an analysis from app intelligence firm App Annie, citing data from the App Store and Google Play combined.

As of April 5, 2020, the Walmart Grocery app saw 460% growth in average daily downloads, in comparison with its January 2020 performance. That indicates a surge of brand-new customers to Walmart Grocery who may have never placed an online grocery order. The influx of new customers could complicate Walmart’s plans to merge its standalone grocery app into its main flagship application. However, the retailer says that plan is still underway for now.

Google says app review may now take 7 days or more

While some users are not having issues, Google warned Android developers this week of a slowdown in the app review process, which may now take seven days or longer. The company explained this was due to the work disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing issues. Google also reminded developers that apps referencing COVID-19 or related terms can only be published if they’re from official government entities or public health organizations, and don’t include monetization mechanisms.

Headlines

Quibi launches its mobile streaming service in the middle of the quarantine era, sees only 300K day-1 installs

Quibi

Image Credits: Quibi

Quibi is not a breakout success, despite how many users are stuck at home bored. The mobile-only streaming service founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg was downloaded over 300,000 times on launch day, according to preliminary data from app store intelligence firm Sensor Tower. That’s just 7.5% of the 4 million installs Disney+ saw when it launched in the U.S. and Canada on November 12, 2019. However, it was enough to send Quibi’s app to nearly the top of the charts on Apple’s App Store, where the app was heavily promoted.

TechCrunch editor Josh Constine believes Quibi should be more radical in its embrace of the mobile platform and allow more social sharing, like TikTok. But Quibi never intended to compete with TikTok. Instead, it envisioned itself as a mobile version of Netflix with shorter, snappier content to watch while on the go.  Unfortunately, Quibi launched at a time when we’re definitely not “on the go.” Also, some of the shows just aren’t that good, according to early reviews.

Quibi screws with trusted TV formulas in an effort to be fresh — like a cooking show, but with food that explodes in your face! (“Dishmantled”). Its courtroom reality show makes the judge a comedian who doesn’t take cases seriously and even just lets everyone win, instead of making a decision. (“Chrissy’s Court”). It also ran a show about suicide ideation (Sophie Turner’s “Survive”) at a time when the pandemic’s impact on people’s mental health is a serious concern. That was just in poor taste. And by lifting out only the treacly highlights of a feel-good show with a “pay it forward” premise (“Thanks a Million”), Quibi doesn’t allow enough time for the heartstrings to get tugged in the first place.

It’s a mixed bag on Quibi, which doesn’t even seem to understand its own premise as of yet. 

Meanwhile, the new streaming powerhouse that’s Disney+ reached 50 million subscribers this week and arrived in India. Maybe Disney could just buy Quibi for that neat rotating video tech?… Oh waitWho owns that again? 

Facebook launches an experimental app for couples at a time when couples are sick of each other’s faces

Couples under quarantine are either making babies or getting a divorce or both, thanks to being cooped up with one another in close quarters for weeks on end. But Facebook chose this time to roll out a new app called Tuned, designed to help couples living apart better communicate. There’s always a market for long-distance communication apps, we suppose, but now is not the best of times for an app dedicated to couples. For the most part, those long business trips keeping lovers separated are canceled — and if couples are apart due to coronavirus health concerns, they’re probably not looking for this sort of love-y dove-y app to share music and moods right now. The app hails from Facebook’s NPE division, which is an R&D shop inside Facebook that experiments with new concepts in social. But so far, none of its efforts have hit. And Tuned likely won’t either.

Report claims Apple’s App Store riddled with fleeceware

A new report from Sophos claims that 3.5 million people have downloaded fleeceware from the App Store. The term references a new type of free-to-download app that includes a massively inflated subscription after a free trial period, often for something as trivial as a horoscopes app, for example. The report found over 30 such apps, including horoscopes/fortune-telling apps, QR code/barcode scanners, image editors and face filters.

Unfortunately, overpriced subscription apps aren’t new to the App Store, nor is this a new trend. Nearly two years ago we reported on how sneaky subscription apps were plaguing the App Store. Apple made some changes to try to address the issue, but it’s clear there’s been no serious oversight of apps’ business models or attempts to limit overpriced subscriptions. While it is a free market, Apple needs to ensure that these sorts of apps aren’t duping users into the subscriptions — if people are paying hundreds of dollars per year for a palm reader, they should at least be consciously aware they’ve made that choice.

Execs from Roblox, SuperAwesome and Fingerprint discuss kids media

TechCrunch this week hosted a webinar panel about the current state of children’s media, with three leaders in the industry: Craig Donato, chief business officer of Roblox; Nancy MacIntyre, co-founder & CEO of Fingerprint; and Dylan Collins, co-founder & CEO of SuperAwesome. The resulting conversation was an interesting look at current trends and how COVID-19 may alter kids media for good.

iOS 14 leak points to an Apple version of Android’s “Slices”

Apple has under development a feature that would allow iOS users to interact with a third-party app, even if the app wasn’t yet installed on your device, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The report is based on information discovered in the iOS 14 code, which is not necessarily an indication of launch plans on Apple’s part — but rather an insight into some of Apple’s work in progress. The feature is referenced internally as the “Clips” API — not to be confused with Apple’s video editing app of the same name. The API is said to work with the QR Code reader, allowing a user to scan a code linked to an app, then interact with that app from a card that appears on their screen. The feature could be Apple’s own version of Android’s “Slices” or perhaps “Instant Apps” that let users engage with apps that aren’t yet downloaded, or re-engage with those they have installed, but from other areas — like search results.

Google Stadia goes free for Gmail users

Google’s game streaming service, Google Stadia, is now free to anyone with a Gmail address, the company announced this week. The service will remain free for gamers across 14 countries for two months. Google is also giving users two free months of Stadia Pro and nine free games to get started. Before, Stadia required purchasing the $129 Google Stadia Premiere Edition that included a Chromecast Ultra, wireless controller and three months of the Pro service.

Stadia is one of now several cloud gaming services that let you play games across screens, including living room TVs and smartphones alike. Google clearly sees the value in acquiring users during quarantine, as people are bored and looking for things to do. However, given the increased demand, Google said it’s being responsible about Stadia’s internet traffic demands and is reducing the default resolution from 4K to 1080p.

Funding and M&A

Downloads

Twine aims to end social isolation with a video chat app for deep conversations

A new startup called twine wants to help people feel less isolated and alone. Though the project has been in the works for around six months, it’s launching at a time when people are struggling with being cut off from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting government lockdowns. Described simply as a “Zoom for meeting new people,” twine is a group video chat experience where people are encouraged to have meaningful discussions that spark new friendships. Twine users are matched with four other partners who they’ll then have 1-to-1 conversations with for eight minutes apiece. The full gathering lasts for a total of 40 minutes. The app is in private beta testing now on iOS.

Google debuts a virtual braille keyboard for Android

Technically not a “download,” but worth a shout-out: This clever software enables those with low vision or blindness to type on their phones without extra hardware. Instead, the new keyboard uses a six-key layout with each key representing one of the six braille dots that form letters in the braille alphabet. The keyboard then works with Android’s TalkBack function, which reads off the words the user types or selects, so corrections can be made. The new keyboard will work on Android 5 and up and is built into the OS.

Bonus: Something for the kids

Apple wants to help parents find something for their kids to do during these long weeks stuck at home. The company this week launched a page with creative ideas to pass the time. (And yep, some would involve an Apple device — like making slo-mo videos or going on a photo walk). Feel like you’ve thought of everything and the kids are burned out? One more cheat sheet can’t hurt.