There's an app for that! Wednesday, May 4th

The word app is short for “application.”  Application in this case refers to a software application.  An app is not just any old software program — it’s a special type of software program.  An app typically refers to software used on a smartphone or mobile device such as the Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or iPad, as in “mobile app” or “iphone app.”  But the  phrase “Web app” or “online app” is also used in a business setting as an abbreviation for “Web application” or “online application” — meaning software that you access and use while online, via a browser, instead of software residing on your computer.


“Why should I care about apps?”  Two good reasons: (1) Web apps or online apps can be a faster, cheaper, more efficient way of deploying software in your business.  Rather than buying a software license, having to install it on your servers or local computers, keeping up with updates — all of which can be expensive and take time — you can simply go online and sign up for an account.  In a few minutes you are using the software.  And typically you pay a monthly fee, meaning that you don’t have to pay license fee up front.  
(2) Mobile apps extend the reach and productivity of your business.  Once you equip your mobile device and/or your employees’ mobile devices with apps, then you and they can perform all sorts of business functions while out of the office traveling, on sales calls, making service calls, etc. 

Apple has created a monster with over 65,000 different applications that are available for the iPhone, iPod touch, and the iPad.  With twenty categories of applications you are bound to find one that fits your needs.

Assignment: Choose five categories (they have to be five different ones - all the links under the Games headings are considered games) and choose one app (from each category) to write a post about.  So you will either have five separate posts or one post with five apps in it.  For each app tell me 1) the name; 2) a short description; 3) price; 4) category; 5) customer's ratings.

App Store