The first app is called Face Down. And it works exactly how it sounds. You start a timer, then place your phone face down on the table. As long as it stays there, the timer runs. The moment you pick ...

In the 1980s, Francesco Cirillo came up with the technique. Using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, he'd study for 25 minutes ...

For something as simple as setting a timer, the built-in apps on our computers can be awfully fiddly. Usually you have to open a Clock app first, then navigate to a separate tab for timers. After that ...