BS: Are Apps Crap?

Subject: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 06:25 AM

I've got a Microsoft Surface Pro (Windows 8.1) and a Nexus 7 tablet (Android). I don't possess an Apple device - so can't comment on the system where apps seem to have originated.

But looking through the Windows and Android App Stores, I can't help noticing that the vast majority of apps seem to be complete rubbish ... 'Best Pens in the World' anyone? Reading customer reviews of many apps, I get the impression that many of them don't even seem to work. And don't even get me started on the dozens and dozens of apps concerned with Bible or Quran studies (creepy and sinister, in my opinion)!!

Looking through the ones I have tried, the one I use most is a dictionary/thesaurus - which is useful for crosswords.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Will Fly
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 07:16 AM

We got an iPad Air for ourselves at Christmas, and I have to say that it's very useful for email, surfing and quick net connections. Some of the Apple apps are indeed crap, but the ones I've downloaded so far - nearly all free - include Google maps, a Google voice-activated app (useful for Mother-in-law with shaky hands), dictionary, document scanning, the odd game or two, some astronomy apps (I'm into atronomy) and some music stuff.

So, some nonsense and some worthwhile things. A lot of the "free" apps give you adverts until you upgrade to a full version - but they're usually a couple of pounds and won't break the bank.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Greg F.
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 09:34 AM

the vast majority of apps seem to be complete rubbish

Absolutely correct. And most of those that aren't rubbish duplicate what a dozen other apps do.

Its all about making money.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 10:03 AM

I have an iPod. I load free apps that I want, as I see no reason to pay for them. News from the BBC, AP, Al Jazerra, Yonhap, NPR and a solitaire game with ads that don't show unless I'm in a wifi-ed environment and then are unobtrusive. I read my email on it once in a great while by using the Safari browser, keep a calendar, and have a few pictures...it is NO substitute for my desktop or even my netbook.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 04:48 PM

'apps' are just little programs, with the word now applied to just 'smart phone' and tablet devices. I am at home 94.621% of the time, so probably will never get a serious mobile device. I have all the clever programs I need for my desktop PC.

There are clever apps I've read about that I'd like to play with, but can barely do justice to what I have now.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 09:10 PM

I have an iPad, so can only comment on Apple, but I have a lot of great free apps, plus a few that I've paid for, though never above three pounds/bucks/euro (whatever it was, too full of New Year's Cheer to remember) so I find them a great help. They're very useful and I really like them a lot - in fact, I was surprised at how much so.

Asking if apps are crap is like asking if books or records or movies or TV shows are crap: some are, some aren't. Only you can judge what works for you - but I don't think they can all be dismissed with a blanket statement. My overall answer is, No they're not. At least not the ones I have.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 02:41 AM

You're absolutely right, of course, Bonnie! But when I first got my tablet devices, I eagerly went through the App Stores looking for stuff to download and was struck by how much rubbish there was. Even apps that looked interesting were often accompanied by bad reviews from disgruntled users. To be honest, I usually dislike blanket statements, but the thread title was meant to be provocative and to start a debate about something which may have been over-hyped.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 09:45 AM

They're not all crap. There are some that make fart sounds.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 10:01 AM

Considering the abundance of the real thing, I'd be surprised if Mudcat members require app fart sounds Tony..

I've got angry birds app on Chrome now, and can't stop playing it. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing but it keeps me out of mischief I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 05:00 PM

Some apps are just excuses to put ads on your mobile device, and user reviews aren't always helpful at sorting the good ones from the crap. And the star ratings are pretty dubious--I've seen four star ratings for apps that no one says anything good about--so you generally have to try a couple and compare.

Also, a number of apps turn themselves on and send info without user prompting, so you have to keep close eye on what is running--even if you don't care about privacy, they can drain the battery pretty fast...

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 09:52 PM

I've got an iPad and a little Hudl, and it strikes me the Apps for the former are a lot less likely to be crap. And it's a lot easier to unload them and still get them back if you ever want them.

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 02 Jan 14 - 04:26 AM

Yes, good point - they're very easy to delete if your iPad is getting overloaded.

The only other thought that strikes me is: I have a friend with an android phone of some type and he LOVES the apps on it. He and his wife were driving me to San Francisco to catch a plane last summer, and in the car we got to talking about mobile phones, pros & cons of various types. He was telling me about an app on his android one which is very good for showing traffic news, road hold-ups etc. And it was: soon it flashed up a warning about a long tailback on the San Mateo Bridge because of an accident, and even pinpointed (correctly) exactly where the crashed cars were. We got stuck in that queue, so had plenty of time to witness firsthand how accurate and constantly-updating that app was. (Gave us something to do while we waited out the delay.)

He mentioned a lot of other neat apps that this phone had too; not silly fluff, but genuinely useful things - maps & navigating tools, a metronome/tuner, foreign language translation, etc - stuff you can actually use. My iPad does all that too, so it made me think about getting an android smartphone (if I ever get one at all) just for the sake of variety.

So ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice...

Subject: RE: BS: Are Apps Crap?
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 02 Jan 14 - 01:55 PM

At the risk of making this a musical thread, here's one we wrote in 2010:

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT

by Bev and Jerry Praver

1. You're lost and your wanting a chart or a map
    You need an address or a street
    Yet finding your bearings is simply a snap      
    Your iphone can help, it's really neat

chorus:
        There's an app for that, there's an app for that
        When you've a problem big or small
        There's an app for that, there's an app for that
        Download the one you need and then install

2. You're shopping for cheese and you don't have a clue
    Havarti or Stilton or Blue
    Just pull out your phone to learn just what to do
    The answer is waiting there for you

3. You're ready to jam, your guitar's out of tune
    Your strings have a mind of their own
    The answer's at hand you'll be joining in soon
    A tuner is stored inside your phone

4. You want to impress her by choosing the wine
    Tonight when you take her to dine
    Pretend you've a call, check the fruit of the vine
    She won't know you're just a philistine

5. Your flashlight was shining to show you the way
    But just then your batteries died
    But Apple is near they will help save the day
    Your iphone will surely be your guide         

6. You're having a baby, your suitcase is packed
    You wonder if this is the time
    Contractions are here and they need to be tracked
    Your iphone can help you - it's sublime

7. You're waiting to hear if the job will be yours
    You've been looking for work for a year
    No sound can be heard and no ringing occurs
    It's a dead zone, there is no signal here

Last chorus:
        
There's no app for that, there's no app for that
When you've a problem big or small
There's no app for that, there's no app for that
Your iPhone can't help you after all

Tune: Jesus Satisfies

Bev and Jerry