Are we appy with our apps?
Posted on August 17th, 2011 in Small Business | 3 Comments »
Are we appy with our apps? Since the development of the iphone and the Android, apps are becoming increasingly popular. But what is it we love about these devices?
Applications, more commonly known as apps – are downloadable pieces of software, which are designed to be easier to use and more user friendly. They vary from social networking to being able to check your online shopping or phone balance. Apps are constantly being released everyday with every random idea you can imagine. There is an app for everything, even a pint of beer which disappears as you pretend to drink it.
Some networks such as www.o2.co.uk provide their own app allowing you to check their website or browse your account. Providers occasionally offer free downloads, such as music tracks, or games to your phone, depending on your contract and network.
The most popular applications at the moment seem to be Facebook, national news bulletins and the very popular game Angry Birds. With an application such as BBC news, everything is designed for easy reading and searching. Similarly, the Facebook mobile app is much more accessible compared to browsing on the official website. Your notifications appear directly at the top, followed by birthdays and under that, your most current news feed. Angry birds on the other hand is simply a fun and interactive game.
Once you have downloaded an app, it appears like an icon on your home screen. It is normally a large and colourful symbol which represents the function of the application. Facebook for example is a blue square with a large white F. This has now become universally recognised as the Facebook sign. We often see it appear on various websites, where you can link your account to what you are browsing. The social network Twitter, has tried to market their symbol in a similar way by using a dark blue square with a white bird. Twitter allows you to ‘tweet’ a status, which explains the bird. However, it has not been anywhere near as popular as Facebook.
Some apps are free to download, such as basic games or social networks. The average cost of an advanced app starts from sixty pence, up to around £50. The expensive downloads are usually things like a GPS or a full console version of a game. Some applications allow you to share with other users; the iphone for example allows you to battle against your friends in a game of Rock Band or table football. You simply connect the phones and you’re ready to play.
New apps are released everyday, so whenever you are bored, there certainly won’t be a shortage of new things to download.
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