NEW YORK, June 3, 2018 (News Wires) - Microsoft Launcher App is helping parents track their kids' locations and app use. And using the Microsoft family account, websites and purchases can be approved or blocked. Microsoft rolled out a variety of new family features across their platforms that they claim will give parents peace of mind in a time of "both great opportunity and great responsibility." Parents that have installed the Microsoft Launcher app on their child's Android devices and have a Microsoft family group account will now have access to their kids' location by viewing the last known location and time. They'll also be able to check their app activity, viewing which apps the kids have accessed and how much time was spent on each one. Furthermore, if an Xbox One or a Windows 10 PC is also set up on the family portal, those stats can also be viewed through the Microsoft Launcher. "Microsoft Launcher is the only launcher that gives parents this visibility across Android, Windows 10, and Xbox One devices. Children and parents always have the option to toggle features off and on at any time and, best of all, it's free." By sticking to Microsoft Edge, the company's internet browser, parents will also be able to control what websites are allowed or blocked. If already using a family group account on the home PC, the existing settings will automatically apply to other devices hosting the Launcher app. MSN Kids is another new feature currently in preview; the curated news site is designed for kids in the elementary and middle school age group. Partnered publishers include Time for Kids, Popular Science, Sports Illustrated for Kids and National Geographic. Previous features from Microsoft such as its core set of family safety settings for Windows 10 PC and Xbox One devices already included the ability to block mature content and apps, set screen time limits, and review kids' purchase requests. Ask a parent allows parents to avoid surprise purchases via Xbox or Microsoft Store by sending out notifications when a child is trying to buy something. Parents can then review the maturity level and cost before deciding to approve or not. Meanwhile a new feature called family notebook in OneNote, released earlier this month, lets busy families edit and share everything from shopping lists to vacation planning.
