Saturday 6 April 2013

Appless, no not Apples

Something caught my attention on the radio the other day. The lady presenter was standing in for whoever hosts that programme but is away on holiday. Isn't it anoying when you switch stations because you want to listen to a particular person's bright and breezy chat, and find some other bod has taken their place because they have gone swanning off to some warm and tropical far away land. How inconsiderate of them.

Anyway, the stand in, or maybe she was sitting down, was going on about Apps, asking people to phone in, or email, or text, and offer suggestions for new Apps to be invented to help them in their daily lives. One person asked for an App to plan which clothes she should wear for the following week, a bit like meal planning in a way. I am totally confused, can't she just open her wardrobe and peruse the hanging garments and select one or two items?

Forgive me for being thick, but I have to ask, what is an App anyway? OK, so it's short for Application, but how do you get an App, where does it come from, and where do you put it? Can I pick one up, does it go off, can I see it, can I touch it, does it smell? Am I missing out because I don't have any Apps? Oh my goodness, I am incomplete if I don't have an App.

Every day you hear or read someting about Apps, telling you to get the latest one, how it will make life a lot easier. I feel I'm missing out, now I'm getting real panicky because I don't have any Apps. If I start collecting Apps, where do I store them, how many will I need, I have enough clutter already I don't want any more to sort out.

I found this after googlying App....
Apps made for blablabla are apps like no other. They’re big, beautiful, full-screen apps that make the most of all the amazing technology inside blablabla. And you’ll find apps in just about every category imaginable. Download apps for work, school or just plain fun. With over 300,000 apps to choose from, there’s no telling where the next tap will take you.

Aha, so I've got to download them, but from where to where? and threehundred thousand of them, good God, where will I put all those Apps? I haven't got anything big enough for all that lot. My spare room with be chocablock with boxes of Apps, I won't be able to get in there.

Apps for fun, don't I have enough of that already? Apps for work, I don't do any, and Apps for school, no thanks, I would rather take my place in the University of Life. And as for 'no telling where the next tap will take you', I think I would rather know where I am going.

Will having Apps, make my life any better, will they make it more enjoyable? I'm struggling to decide what kind of App I might need, one that would benefit me. The only one I can think of is something to make my brain more imaginative, to be more inventive in my crafting and art, to give me more ideas for blogging, and how to get more than 24 hours out of a day. If I can't find one for all that, I'll not bother. I will remain Appless.   

28 comments:

  1. I am not appless - although that's because Mr FD downloads them onto my tablet. Me? I'm just a techno-idiot...and I don't like playing games on my tabby.

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    1. A tablet, eh! Now I have a few of those. They've been lying around for ages because I never take them.

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  2. Brilliant post. I am in the age bracket in which I should be app obsessed, but have figured that I've managed to live for the past 33 years without an iPhone or a smartphone, so I must be doing fine....

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    1. Excellent - you should not be 'Anonymous' us (slightly) oldies need more people like you.
      Please reveal yourself!

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  3. I`m also appless. Don`t give a hoot about them and shall never need any! Life`s too short to be swamped by apps!!

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  4. Apps have their place - in schools. We have recently trialled an i-pad for Year 6, there are apps costing 49p which, for instance, if a teacher was giving a lecture on Second World War battleships, all of the relevant picture clips would be available for display on the whiteboard in the classroom. Saves a lot of time for teachers. Plus, the i-pad is also used as a 'reward' tool and the children made up their own rules for how it was to be used.

    Just waiting for tenders to roll out the programmes to the rest of the school, you only need to pay for each app once for the whole school. But for me, I'm not sure I'm ready, I haven't mastered my Blackcurrant phone yet.

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  5. Oh dear, you are App-less in an App-led world...!

    I was the same until three months ago when I had to get a new phone ( old one, 8 years old, finally died a final death)


    As it will do lots of extra stuff - even though it was very cheap - I have downloaded a few free apps onto my mobile phone - Kindle ( so I can read a few books if I am caught out without one in my bag) , Audible (so I can listen to an audio book, likewise) and a couple of games (Hillclimb racing, Angry Birds being my chosen waste of time), but apart from that, usually used when I am unexpectedly made to wait for someone or something I am far to busy doing real stuff in the real world to spend my time on all that stuff...!

    Much like you Ilona!

    I would not worry too much :-)

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    1. Read a few books, on a phone !!! You'll strain your eyes woman, and how many times will you have to turn the page. It will take you forever with writing that small.

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    2. Its not that bad, honest! But only if I am really desperate! But it helps, sometime. The mp3 player is more use tbh :-)

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  6. Yes, I dont have a smart phone so no good for me. Might get one; might get apps, not closing the door completely to it all but right now have to go on a long walk in the Spring sunshine..............

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  7. The only app I ever downloaded was so that I could email on my cell phone while I was away. I'm not even sure that was a real "app".
    I don't want to pay for apps and somehow I'm getting along quite fine without them. There may come a time when apps are a necessity but let's hope not. Your post was amusing and at the same time, true.

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  8. If there is an App that does the housework all by itself , I want it.
    Jane x

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  9. I'll have an ironing app please! (no I don't know what they are either, something to go on your phone I'm guessing? LOL).

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  10. I still don't really understand what an "application" is?

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    1. No I don't either. I know you can make an application for a job, or a loan, but why is something you can put on your phone called an application? Bloomin daft I call it.

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  11. This post really made me chuckle. Many thanks

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  12. Ruth here.
    I must admit that i gave in and got a smartphone (iPhone) last year-and i love it. And this is from the person who doesnt have a T.V, DVD player etc etc.
    I have a few apps-some i use a lot and some i dont use very often.
    I love the Tune in radio app-i can listen to radio from around the world while i walk to and from work. And i have an app that tracks my gas, electric and water consumption-very handy!
    An amusing and interesting post as usual Ilona.

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  13. As I have a mobile phone on contract I got a smart phone as soon as I could. I love it. It keeps me moving with the times and keeps my brain active. I have a few games on it (hill climb racing for me too Compostwoman) and also have some useful apps such as Barcode scanner. Used this to scan barcode on boots which my friend was considering buying and was able to find where they were available cheaper. I know I managed perfectly well without it but I could also say the same for computers but I certainly would not like to be without the internet now. There are loads of free apps available on my phone and most of them are of no interest to me but some suit me and are gems.

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    1. You're tempting me to upgrade, Eileen. I feel a possible spend coming along.

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  14. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like without Mr Sft's technical knowledge because I am so NOT interested in this kind of thing unless it's made easy for me.

    When we were on our Frugal Holiday recently I couldn't blog at the hostels. And I couldn't use my computer in places that had free wifi (not that I understand all that) and what did Mr Sft do....he downloaded the blogger app..and I could blog.

    Sft x

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    1. Hi SFT, I think it's a shame that using the internet at Youth Hostels is so expensive.. I have used free WIFI when staying at some B & B's, and now it's something I look for when deciding where to stay.

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  15. I don't really like using phones, so I have an ancient Nokia, and definitely no apps. I love my laptop and my Kindle, and they already take up far too much of my discretionary time, so for me, a smartphone would be far too tempting a timewaster! However, I do have my son's old ipod, and I download sermons for free from itunes, and happily listen to them whilst lying in bed!

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  16. Hi Ilona you made me laugh with this post. DS1 is our tech man. He gave me my iPhone as it was his cast off. I am using it right now to comment. He found a crushed phone while we were cycling. Eventually, he repaired it and gave to DH. I said he won't want that! How wrong . We don't download apps but I know how to do it. I have a gizmo on my cycle so I can charge the phones and an android tablet while on tour so don't miss out.

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    1. Hi Brenda, I wish I had a techie man, mine has gone to live in Australia, and I miss him, boohoo :o(

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  17. The word app is a noun, short for “application.” Application in this case refers to a software application; in other words, a 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, meaning software that you access and use while online, via a browser, instead of software residing on your computer (such as Microsoft Word).

    You can live without them. I live better with them. I would be very surprised if you didn’t find some that were useful, beneficial or entertaining. There are thousands upon thousands.

    Here are some that I use (on Android) or can recommend which I find excellent, fascinating, rewarding and free. (Plus I delight in the amazement of my grandchildren that I, as a 67 year old, should have an informed view on issues they think belong to younger generations.)
    1. TuneIn Radio - This application lets you listen to live radio from around the world or find recent programs on the channels you like i.e. Desert Island Discs.
    2. Evernote - Brilliant application allowing you to take a virtual notebook with you anywhere. You can embed photographs and access from your computer or the Internet generally.
    3. Gumtree UK – Gumtree, a local newspaper advertising buys and sells in the local area. This is app version containing the same information but clearly quicker.
    4. Amazon Mobile - I use this a lot to scan the barcodes of goods in shops and then compare the costs to Amazon. If I choose to buy from Amazon, I'm only a couple of clicks away.
    5. Skype - free IM & video calls - Not used this but it's rated highly. If you have Wifi or a good data package this could be used to illiminate call costs.
    6. National Rail Enquiries - Very good application. Set your home station and then from anywhere say "get me home" and it will locate the nearest station and plan your route.
    7. Navfree: Free GPS Navigation - This doesn't work for me with my current phone because of the configuration of my memory but will for most. This is a powerful alternative to TomTom using the internal GPS.
    8. English Dictionary - Offline - Not the Oxford version but very useful. The offline indicates it'll work without an Internet connection too.
    9. National Trust - An app to find local National Trust sites or plan days out.
    10. Goodreads - As you may know, this has just been bought by Amazon. The App allows you to search for reviews on any published book. (I have a Kindle and think it is a fantastic device – so many free books, special offers. So easy to read in bright sunlight. Absolutely fantastic!!)
    11. NHS Health and Symptom checker - This requires an active connection to the Internet but based on symptoms, you are able to walk through and identify the best course of action for mainstream issues.
    12. NewsRepublic - A great application for bringing together news from multiple news agencies. This is configurable allowing you to be the editor. Fantastic interface.
    13. FBReader - Great simple book reader. Reads most formats.
    14. Google Sky – magic, magic, magic. Just point your phone at the sky and identify millions of heavenly bodies.
    Brian

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  18. Apps or applications are new technological tools that you are able to download if you have ipads (cheaper versions are called android tablets)or iphones (android 'phones)or onto the laptop if u have the latest versions. They are simply a more convenient/quicker way of reaching information that you are interested in. Instead of tapping into your browser BBC iplayer (for instance)you download the app and it is always there for you to peruse. Apps are especially popular for shopping - you download the relevant app and it is always there for you. The good thing about them is that lots are free (covering every single interest you could possibly think of) and you can uninstall them/install them as you wish. This means that you can individually tailor your device. If I had a tablet, mine would have the iplayer & an app for some commercial radio stations as I am on my own for a lot of the time.

    Natalie

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  19. Hi Ilona,
    You had my attention the minute I saw the title and content of this latest post. I too have been able to exist without apps but sometimes you see reviews and think 'that one sounds useful'. If you do decide to explore downloading I shall be very interested in how its done. Your readers have made some good comments (as usual).
    Wendy (Wales)

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