94: Smartphone Psychology

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Twitter’s new timeline, Amazon’s weird promotions, and smartphone psychology! Questions/comments? Visit awkward.email or call/text 509-AWKWARD!

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Twitter’s new timeline, Amazon’s weird promotions, and smartphone psychology! Questions/comments? Visit awkward.email or call/text 509-AWKWARD!

Links for this episode:

Soup Kitchen
A short film by Darren Herczeg.
23andMe and Women’s Health Startup Celmatix Combine Forces To Research Genes Affecting Infertility
Humans have been having humans for hundreds of thousands of years as part of our genetic drive so it seems counter-Darwinian that some genes might work against our ability to make a baby. But that is exactly what certain genes might be doing, according to women’s health startup Celmatix, and they are now working with 23andMe to hopefully figure out why.
Apple Stores Now Offering Belkin Screen Protector Application
As of today, Apple Stores across the United States and around the world are offering a new system that allows Apple Store employees to apply Belkin-branded screen protectors for iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus customers. Many stores across the world began rolling out the Belkin ScreenCare+ Application System last week, but the system is officially available in retail stores starting this morning.
Gmail Will Now Warn You About Potentially Unsafe Messages with Two New Icons
You might see a new broken lock icon in Gmail messages starting today. It can warn you if you’re sending a message to an email service that doesn’t support encryption or if you received a message that wasn’t encrypted.
“Huge” number of Mac apps vulnerable to hijacking, and a fix is elusive
Apps that use 3rd-party updater over insecure HTTP channels subject to MiTM attacks.
The Gmail Sync Bug's Fix Is Rolling Out Over The Next Week, No App Updates Necessary
Some android users have been suffering from delayed or inexistent notifications since November. The issue mostly affects Gmail on Nexus devices running Marshmallow (but other apps, devices, and Android builds have also been reported). Two weeks ago, Gmail 5.10 rolled out but the updated app only fixed synchronization for Hotmail accounts, not other types and most importantly, not Gmail accounts. At the time, we knew that the more pervasive sync bug had been identified by the team, but that the fix hadn't been implemented yet.
New Bill Introduced in U.S. Congress to Block State-Level Efforts to Weaken Smartphone Encryption
A new bill introduced in U.S. Congress today by representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Blake Farenthold (R-TX) would attempt to block state-level efforts to ban sales of strongly encrypted smartphones, reports Ars Technica.
'A hundred million people?' Missy Elliott promotes new single during Super Bowl advert for Amazon's Echo with Alec Baldwin
Missy Elliott promoted her latest single during a Super Bowl commercial on Sunday for Amazon's Echo speaker featuring Alec Baldwin.
Twitter Begins Rolling Out Algorithmic Timeline, Will Be Opt-In At First
Today, Twitter is beginning the biggest change to its service in years. Users will begin to see an algorithmic timeline over the next few weeks, as an alternative to the pure chronological view we have now.
Your iPhone Is Making You Depressed
It's been estimated that the average mobile phone user checks a device 150 times a day, and nearly a third of smartphone users admit that they're addicted to their devices. Everyone knows that having your nose in your phone is a pretty unhealthy habit, but new research suggests that it could even be a sign of depression.
Your Phone Knows If You're Depressed
You can fake a smile, but your phone knows the truth. Depression can be detected from your smartphone sensor data by tracking the number of minutes you use the phone and your daily geographical locations, reports a small Northwestern Medicine study.
Spend an hour on your smartphone daily? You could be depressed
Monitoring the length of time that volunteers spent on their phones and their movements showed whether they were depressed or not.
Nomophobia: Smartphone Addiction
With every passing day, technology is overtaking our daily lives. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, career or economic status, you're probably packing a smartphone right now. In fact, 56 percent of all Americans own one (link is external). The phone, computer, tablet and other high tech devices have become not just an object, but for many a best friend.
TalkSpace: Introducing Social Media Dependency Therapy
We all love Social Media, and we all wish we would use it just a bit less. Data suggests that we’re checking our phones an average of 150 times every day, and around 30% of the total time spent online is dedicated to Social Media.

This week's episode is sponsored by DawgCoin!