Just when we thought Facebook was done with the changes, they pull another major switch that leaves readers baffled, confused, and down-right…interested. That’s right, this time the changes are not to their site per say, but rather an app they are developing (or assisting in development). This one would, according to John Sutter, “let people share data about how much—or little—electricity they’re using at home” (2011). Basically, it’s a way to keep people accountable for all the times they leave the light turned on or the fan switched to high over low. Our social media has become a maternal figure (and that is hard to deny).
What’s truly at debate here? Is it that Facebook is now watching our every move? Or perhaps, is it because there is an App for EVERYTHING. You can get an app to check the prices of groceries. You can get an app to look up the latest stock market change. You can get an app that shows you the latest gossip on certain celebrities. Our lives can be summed up quickly thanks to the new new media coming our way, and if it can’t, I imagine sooner or later “there’ll be an APP for that” too.
Back in December 2009, Apple filed for the trademarked phrase “There’s an App for that” and began to use it commercially on January 26, 2009. What’s the buzz about this time? It seems every time Apple does something innovative, other companies are only steps behind. The slogan refers to “Apple’s marketing and advertising initiatives around the iPhone and all other iOS devices” (Grove, 2010). For me, that was still a bit too techy, but Jim Blasingame breaks it down further, stating that “a mobile app converts content and resources that otherwise would have been consumed through a browser on a computer desktop, to the much smaller and variably shaped screens on the many different kinds of hand-held devices” (2011). In short, an app makes things easier by making them mobile.
In our current day-and-age, this is just fine. Apps are all the rage. During research for the Organizational Usage assignment, Dylan Edwards—Digital Communications Specialist for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation—said one thing he wants to work on is getting an app. Companies are continuously trying to create apps for other companies. It’s hard to believe but this is the new supply and demand. I do not own a Smartphone (iPhone particularly) so I am not in the App scene. I imagine my next upgrade will cannonball me into an arena I won’t quite understand. But luckily, apps are easy to learn and available on whatever subject a user desires. If that’s not enough, it doesn’t take much to learn the lingo. And if it does—well, I’m sure there’s an app for that.
Apps are becoming the wave of the future. As you mentioned, if there is not an app for something, there will soon be. It is interesting that Apple has really promoted the app and both the company's name and app start with the same three letters. Is this a coincidence? I am not sure. Apple seems to have the consumer's pulse with technology and the relationship is mutually beneficial. What the people want, Apple seems to deliver. Even though other companies are right behind Apple, Apple for now seems to be leading the way.
ReplyDeleteApps are a very helpful tool that centralizes information so it is literally at your finger tips.I also just noticed that Apple and App have the same 3 letters but later realizing that App is short for Application the coincidence seems insignificant. Apple is simply capitalizing of of the needs of people. Making life easily for a majority lazy society will make you money. I am still waiting for another company to knock Apple off of its high horse not to see a company fall but to see some completion.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find with apps is that there are some really good ones out there for really cheap, Free. Anyone can develop an app and that is why they are so popular and there are so many of them.
ReplyDeleteI am currently in the market to get an organizer app to keep my life in order, they range in the price of $3 - 5, not a bad price considering that this app on my iPad will be able to keep me insane and work with my calendar app, which will then work with my other app(just kidding).
I like your final line in your entry, its only going to become even more true in the next few years.
The app world is becoming part of our lives! I have a smartphone and there truly feels like there is an app for everything. It is extremely useful being able to download an application on your mobile phone within seconds. You shared that Apple trademarked the app phrase in 2009. I feel like the app phase is so new, but in reality it has been around for a few years. I enjoyed your post as it was very interesting. Great job Kyle!
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