Here are some of the latest software announcements of the week:
° Session is a new open-source, end-to-end encrypted messenger backed by a privacy non-profit. Unlike WhatsApp or Signal, Session requires no phone number or personal info to sign up . Users get a random Session ID instead. It also uses onion-routing (similar to Tor) to send messages, meaning no central server ever sees who’s contacting whom . Essentially, it’s built so that metadata; the who/when/where of messages – is minimized or eliminated.
° Mozilla has updated the Firefox browser to add support for tab groups.
° PlayNice LLC — a developer of games that prevent and treat mental health, has launched its flagship game MindLight. An action-adventure video game, It’s designed to “help children improve their ability to cope with stress and anxiety.”
To play MindLight today, families will need two things. First is a biofeedback Neurosky MindWave 2 EEG headset (support for more devices coming soon). Second is a subscription to the MindLight game, which can be downloaded from the Amazon, Android, and Apple app stores or on PlayNice’s website. Supported game devices include PCs (Windows v10 v2004 or later), Android Tablets, and iPads.
° Level Ex (Powered by Relevate Health), the studio behind medical games for medical professionals, has launched Level One, a free mobile game designed to make Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) onboarding faster, easier, and less overwhelming.
° Xthings, which specializes in IoT innovation, has unveiled an expanded integration with Home Assistant, an open-source home automation platform, including its line of ULTRALOQ smart locks. Xthings ensures its products seamlessly connect with Home Assistant, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Alexa.
