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What are super apps, digitalized world

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What are super apps

Have you ever thought that instead of installing separate apps for each task in your mobile phone, there is a single portal that fulfills all your needs?

Whether you want to call a friend, send money to a loved one online, order a pizza, pay an electricity bill, book a ride, pay a child’s school fees or buy a movie ticket. You will need five to seven types of apps.

But what if all these facilities are available in a single app? This is called super app which is getting quite popular nowadays.

About 4,000 apps are registered on the Google Play Store every day, the total number of which has reached 3,480,000 by July 2022. About 2.2 million apps are registered on the Apple Store as well.

But only a few are super apps. A super app is a collection of multiple services that may not be similar to each other but are working together in a single app.

In the context of Pakistan, if Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Maps, Daraz and Easy Paisa are combined in one app, it will become a super app.

Some of the super apps:

China’s WeChat and Alipay, Singapore’s Grab, Indonesia’s GoTo, Vietnam’s Zalo and South Korea’s Kakao are super apps.
Most of them started as ride services or messaging apps and later expanded into financial services, food delivery, digital payments, gaming, travel booking, utility bill payments, airline ticketing, mobile phone top-ups, music streaming and social networking.

In today’s digital world, it is only natural for millions of users to connect with these apps. Especially in Asia, which has half of the world’s population, the reason for the success of these apps is the vast network of users.
Singapore’s Grab provides delivery, financial services and ride booking services to around 190 million customers in 428 cities across eight countries, including Thailand and Vietnam.

GoTo (GoTo) has become Indonesia’s largest tech company and a share of two percent of the GDP of one trillion dollars.

Super apps impact on economy:

kakao super apps

87% of the South Korean population is using Kakao. However, most super apps have been successful in Asia. Europe and the US, despite being ahead of the curve in technology, will see fewer super apps. There are several reasons for this.

The first reason is how quickly people in a region accept new technology. Smart technology is quickly gaining acceptance in countries where the majority of the population consists of young people. Asia’s majority population is also young and this is the first reason why most super apps are successful in Asia.

According to a report, in terms of the number of smartphone users, China and India are leading the world, while Japan and Indonesia are also among the first ten countries.
Another reason is easy access to internet and technology. Over the past two decades, Chinese companies have made high-quality, low-cost smartphones affordable for the common man. In addition, 73 percent of Chinese have access to the Internet.

These are the two driving forces behind Alipay and WeChat becoming super apps. You can also pay via Alipay or WeChat in a Chinese village. Any app usually starts with a half-service. For example, messaging, ride sharing or delivery service. After initial success, more services are added.

A successful super app in one country is not necessarily successful in another country. Success depends on how well app developers take into account local needs and issues.

gojek super apps

For example, Indonesia’s Gojek started as a bike ride and call center. At that time most people did not have mobile phones so the company provided easy loans to its bikers to buy mobile phones.

If you start a startup related to travel facilities, it is important that you have a thorough knowledge of the traffic situation and transport culture of your target area. In Lahore or Karachi, you cannot bring a model from China, Singapore or South Korea.

Super apps are gaining popularity not only in Asia but also in Latin American and African countries. Although there is a kind of digital gap due to economic backwardness, it is also being filled rapidly as the use of internet and smart phones is also increasing among the young generation of these countries. Chinese companies are also introducing cheap smartphones in these markets.

Why there are no super apps in europe:

Europe strict laws
Europe strict laws

There are many reasons why there are no super apps in Europe and America. Since China has created its own platforms to replace Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and Google, the competition has not been there. Chinese companies have a large population of their own country as consumers and no competition.

But the competition between companies in America and Europe is fierce. For example, Apple’s iMessage competes with Facebook’s WhatsApp and Messenger. This competition does not allow any one company to monopolize the market in such a way that it creates a super app.

Euorope’s privacy laws are very strict:

Another reason is that data privacy laws in China are not as strict as in Europe and America. Big Chinese companies have millions of users’ data that they use for their various services, but that doesn’t mean that Chinese users don’t care about their privacy.

In contrast, Europe is very sensitive about data privacy and its laws are quite strict.

Most of the super apps depend on the data of users. They may also use user data stored for one service for another service. Which is easy in a country like China, but very difficult in Europe and America.

Super apps in Pakistan:

super apps in Pakistan

Officially, there is no super app in Pakistan because for a while telecom companies did not go beyond call and message service and with the presence of apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, the role of telecom companies was reduced to that of an internet provider. .

Jazz once tried to launch a super app called Veon, modeled after China’s WeChat, but it failed. Because Pakistan is not China where Google’s alternative to Baidu, Amazon’s alternative to Alibaba and Facebook and WhatsApp’s alternative to WeChat exist.

Despite this, telecom companies are offering facilities like digital payments, banking, shopping and mobile top-up through their apps. Jazz Cash, Easy Paisa and U Bank are examples of this.

Easypaisa and Jazz cash, may be a super app:

Now the specific network issue is also eliminated. Irrespective of your network, you can open an Easy Paisa account. EasyPaisa and JazzCash are providing almost all facilities except message and call. Maybe one of them will become a super app in the near future.

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Google is going to end Gmail’s beloved feature

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Gmail

Technology giant Google is going to end beloved feature of Gmail.

Gmail users who use the website’s HTML Basic View feature will no longer have this feature available from January 2024.

According to a notice in the company’s support patch, Gmail will only be available in Standard View from that date.
HTML BasicView is originally a 2007 design by Gmail that users often use over slow Wi-Fi. Standard view features such as chat box, spell check or contact importing are not loaded on this mode.

However, Pratik Patel, an expert in blind technology, warns that the feature being retired is a major setback for blind and partially sighted people.

He said that many blind people who use this mode of Gmail will not only be confused but also unhappy.

HTMLView makes the screen much easier for blind people to use. The standard interface is now available for use by the blind, but many people are left with the basic HTML version because that’s what they know how to use.

Pratik Patel added that it is not that standard interfaces are not available. But some people will not be ready to use this mode.

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Meet RT-2: The AI System That Can Teach Robots New Tricks

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RT-2

Imagine a cutting-edge AI system that can teach robots to do things they were never specifically trained for. Well, that’s precisely what Google DeepMind has achieved with their new creation called RT-2. This groundbreaking model learns from both web-based data and information gathered from real-world robotics experiences, enabling it to give simple yet effective instructions to robots.

Testing Phase of RT-2:

In the testing phase, RT-2 was challenged with tasks that were completely new to it, not part of its initial training. For example, it was asked to arrange oranges in a matching bowl, something it had never done before. To tackle these unfamiliar tasks, RT-2 tapped into the vast knowledge it had accumulated from the web data it learned. And impressively, it succeeded in completing these actions with a 62% success rate – that’s twice as good as its predecessor, RT-1.

Ability to work on New Commands:

But what makes RT-2 truly remarkable is its ability to adapt and think on its feet. It can figure out new commands and respond effectively, even when those tasks were never part of its training data. For instance, when asked to find an object that could serve as a hammer, RT-2 astutely identified a rock as the most suitable option.

Moreover, RT-2’s cognitive prowess goes beyond single-step problem-solving. It can reason through multiple stages, devising clever solutions to complex challenges. In one test, it ingeniously concluded that a rock would make a perfect makeshift hammer, displaying a level of reasoning similar to how humans would approach the problem. Another time, when commanded to push a bottle of ketchup towards a blue cube, RT-2 achieved the objective, despite having no prior knowledge of any objects except the cube.

This breakthrough by Google DeepMind signifies a major leap forward in the realms of artificial intelligence and robotics. RT-2’s capability to learn from web data and apply that knowledge to real-life tasks opens up exciting possibilities for the future of robotics. As the technology continues to evolve, we could witness the emergence of versatile and helpful robots that can seamlessly integrate into various human-centered environments. While there’s still much work to be done, RT-2 offers a tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come in the fascinating world of robotics.

Some Questions You may want to Know About RT-2:

1. What is RT-2?

RT-2 is an advanced AI model developed by Google DeepMind for robotics. It can teach robots to perform tasks beyond its initial training data, thanks to its ability to learn from web data and apply that knowledge to real-world scenarios.

2. How does RT-2 learn to perform new tasks?

RT-2 learns from a combination of web-based data and information collected from real-world robotics experiences. It uses this diverse knowledge to give robots simple instructions for performing various tasks.

3. What is the success rate of RT-2 in performing new tasks?

In tests, RT-2 achieved a 62% success rate in carrying out tasks that were not part of its initial robotic training data. This is twice as successful as its predecessor, RT-1.

4. Can RT-2 understand and communicate with robots?

Yes, RT-2 can effectively communicate with robots by providing them with clear and actionable instructions. It can direct robots to carry out tasks that it was not explicitly trained for.

5. Does RT-2 demonstrate reasoning capabilities?

Absolutely! RT-2 showcases remarkable reasoning capabilities, allowing it to figure out new user commands and tasks that were not present in its initial training data. It can even perform multi-stage semantic reasoning to solve complex challenges.

6. How does RT-2 adapt to new situations?

RT-2’s adaptability comes from its ability to draw upon the diverse knowledge it acquired from web-based data. It can translate this knowledge into useful instructions, enabling it to tackle new and unfamiliar tasks effectively.

7. What is DeepMind’s view on RT-2’s impact on robotics?

Google DeepMind sees RT-2 as a significant breakthrough in artificial intelligence and robotics. They believe it brings us closer to a future of helpful and more general-purpose robots that can operate in various human-centered environments.

8. How can RT-2 enhance interactions with robots?

RT-2’s ability to teach robots new tasks and communicate effectively with them can significantly enhance human-robot interactions. It opens up possibilities for robots to be more adaptable and helpful in diverse situations.

9. What future possibilities does RT-2 present for robotics?

RT-2’s success in learning from web data and applying that knowledge to real-world tasks offers exciting possibilities for the future of robotics. As the technology advances, we could see robots becoming more versatile, capable, and seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. The potential for helpful robots in various human-centered environments is just within reach.

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Twitter Bird is Replaced by Twitter X, See The Difference

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Twitter X

Elon Musk’s announcement to fire Twitter’s “Bird”. Replaced By Twitter X.
Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has announced that the well-known logo of the blue bird (sparrow) in the social media platform is now going to be a thing of the past, Elon Musk will say goodbye to the bird and other birds soon.

According to details, Twitter’s iconic bird logo is going to change, Elon Musk confirmed that Twitter’s logo will soon become an “X”. This will be the biggest change of Twitter since Elon Musk’s ownership in October 2022.

Apart from this, he also sounded the alarm for the old employees. The birds are referring to former Twitter employees who founded the company with the Twitter bird logo.

Recall that in April 2023, announcing the appointment of the new chief executive of Twitter, Landa Yacarino, Elon Musk said that she will work to transform the platform into “X”, which will be a super app.

Earlier in April this year, Twitter’s traditional logo was temporarily replaced with a Doggy Coin dog logo.

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