Latest news with #Waterllama
LeMonde
25-07-2025
- Health
- LeMonde
From Facebook games to a llama reminding you to drink water: The rise of 'streaks,' the rewards that keep you hooked
You are just one glass of water short of your daily hydration goal, and that evening, your phone pings: "Almost there! Just 4 oz left today." Once you've finished your last glass of water, you have to log it onto the Waterllama app or risk losing your streak – that is, the sequence of consecutive days when you reached your target. Apple Fitness, Duolingo, Snapchat, BeReal, Kindle and WeReward: The list of apps that track our streaks is growing, all aiming to bring us back every day – and to make us feel guilty if we miss a day. So when did we start placing so much importance on this constant stream of tiny rewards? The streak draws on two key ideas: reward daily engagement and punish irregularity. These were popularized by free-to-play games that spread across Facebook starting in 2007, funded by microtransactions, data resale and advertising. "The longer they keep you coming back, the more valuable data you provide to the developers," explained Julien Pillot, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Nice and specializes in video games. Winning over occasional users is thus crucial. Developers find inspiration from video game scoring systems that reward speed or the number of "kills," or when you find secret areas – features that "artificially maximize a game's lifespan," according to Pillot. They adapt this strategy to instantly hook new players: "The simplest and most effective way to get people to return regularly is to reward them just for logging in," Pillot said.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Waterllama's biggest update yet will help you stay hydrated this summer
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. Summer has arrived, which means hydration should be top of mind every day. If you were intrigued by the arrival of the HidrateSpark Pro 2 smart water bottle earlier this month, you should also be aware of Waterllama's latest update, which improves the app's ability to accurately track the amount of water and other liquid you drink every day. With version 1.89, the company added 100+ popular beverages from around the world, including popular drinks like Coke, oolong tea, horchata, and more, which means you don't need to fill in your drinks from scratch. Most importantly, the app adds up your hydration score for you, so you can tell whether you're moving towards your goal or not. Today's Top Deals XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals For example, if you drink alcoholic beverages, you're actually dehydrating yourself because you'll have to use the restroom more often. If you drink milk instead, you're actually increasing your hydration because of its electrolytes and nutrients. Waterllama is also making it easier to create custom beverages. Users can pick a color, match their cup, and choose from 100+ hand-drawn icons, which the app hopes will match your favorite tumbler. In a press release, the company says, 'If you're unsure about hydration or caffeine in the beverage you're creating, don't worry. You can simply choose a beverage that it's similar to, and all the known characteristics will be applied to your new beverage.' This update also brings self-styled widgets, explanations for failed challenges, and 17 new app icons for you to try out. From the whimsical balloon llama to the elegant flower llama, there's a new icon for every preference. There are even the unique glass and candy options to give an interesting pop to your iPhone Home Screen. Additionally, the company is readying an update for iOS 26 later this fall. Waterllama is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. The app is free to download but requires a subscription to unlock all the perks. Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more More Top Deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 See the
