AppDate: Opera enhances online privacy

In this week’s AppDate, SEAN BACHER highlights Opera VPN for Android, Marvel Contest of Champions, Disk Drill 3, Wayde’s World website, and Pick ’n Pay’s Super Animals.

Opera VPN for Android

The Opera VPN (virtual private network) for Android lets users enhance their online privacy, block ad-tracking cookies, access more online content, extend the geographical reach of apps and test the security of Wi-Fi networks before they connect to them. Users don’t need to register to use the app, nor do they have to sign up for any subscriptions. All they need to do is download and install the app. The Android version of the Opera VPN app follows the iOS version that rolled out globally in May.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: A free download.

Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.

Marvel Contest of Champions

Superb graphics, great sound and ease of use are all ingredients that make the Marvel Champions app one of the best fighting games available. The game offers players the ability to fight others head to head, start quests or enter into story mode where they will be able to upgrade their champions. At the beginning of the game one is given two characters and, as they progress, more are added.

Platform: iOS and Android

Expect to pay: Free to play, but endless in-app purchases are available.

Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.

Disk Drill 3

Corrupt files, missing partitions or accidentally deleted documents are issues most computer users have faced at some point. There are numerous applications that claim to be able to remedy these problems, but many only do half. Disk Drill for Mac, however, easily helps out with all of these problems. A user simply installs the software, selects the partition or file that needs to be recovered, and selects the rebuild or recover option. The application is able to recover over 200 file formats and also includes an option to recover files from an Android device.

Platform: iOS

Expect to pay: The free version offers very limited recovery options, while the Pro version, which costs R1300, will recover most lost files and partitions.

Stockists: www.cleverfiles.com

Wayde’s World website

The Wayde’s World website, sponsored by T-Systems, is a live biography website that documents every aspect of South Africa’s Olympic 400m gold medalist Wayde van Niekerk’s life, from details of his athletics career, such as training times, obstacles and achievements, to his personal life. The site, fully connected to social media platforms, takes the viewer with Wayde on his travels and provides glimpses into what makes the star athlete tick.

Platform: Any up-to-date web browser

Expect to pay: Free to use.

Stockists: www.waydesworldsa.co.za

Pick ’n Pay’s Super Animals

Super Animals comprises a collection of 108 cards, each depicting interesting facts about an animal. For every R150 spent at any Pick n Pay, a shopper gets a pack of four collectible cards. The cards are divided into nine categories – fastest, toughest, deadliest, smartest, fiercest, weirdest, sneakiest, loudest and showiest – and can be stored in a glossy collector’s album. In addition to luring parents into spending more money at Pick ’n Pay stores to collect the cards, an app has been made available that lets children scan the individual barcodes of each card. Once scanned, the app uses augmented reality to bring the Super Card to life. A virtual album is also included, where the scanned cards are stored and achievements unlocked.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: A free download

Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.

* Sean Bacher is editor of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter on @SeanBacher