The basic equipment of the smartphone includes not only pre-installed applications, but also those that you can download for free from Google play, including in the form of APK files.
Our Must-have Applications are primarily for those who have just received new smartphone with the operating room Android system... At the same time, the application experts from the editorial office of CHIP thought about all the applications of the smartphone: managing files, reading news, downloading videos from YouTube and even watching TV.
30th place: Clean Master
Clean Master removes unused files from your smartphone - this way you keep order and get rid of garbage, devouring the memory of your Android device.
The utility will delete the application cache and also free memory from unused running applications.
Also, there is a function to analyze the performance of the device and files on the SD card. V full version antivirus is built into the program.
In addition, the application has the AppLock function, with which you can block access to Facebook, SMS, contacts, photo gallery, as well as to any other applications.
29th place: AirDroid
With AirDroid, you can sync your Android device with your personal computer wirelessly.
The only thing you need for this is the corresponding version of the program on your PC.
28th place: RIA Novosti
You should always have an idea of the picture of events in the world. With the free RIA Novosti app, you will always be up to date with the latest news.
27th place: Adobe Reader
With the Android version of "Adobe Reader", the documents in PDF format you can now open and view on any Android phone and tablet.
26th place: Navitel Navigator 9.6
Navigation system Navitel Navigator has a high positioning accuracy on the terrain, a unique system for laying and guiding along the route, and also has a convenient search for objects on the map. Moreover, the program does not need the Internet for laying and guiding the route. All infrastructure objects are already integrated into the map database, including gas stations, workshops, banks, shops, cafes, theaters, etc.
When connected to the Internet, data on traffic jams becomes available, as well as current prices for gasoline at many gas stations.
The user can purchase the program with a map of Russia or individual districts (from 800 rubles). There is an opportunity to buy maps of other countries.
Those who do not intend to spend money on a fully functional version, after 7 days test mode can use the program for free and further, but already in freemium mode. At the same time, he will not have access to: routing; voice guidance; 3D map mode; traffic congestion information and lane indicators.
25th place: MAPS.ME
The free MAPS.ME package will help you plan your trip from your current location to a railway station, metro station, a specific address or any other place of interest.
24th place: Evernote
Those who attach great importance to being well organized can rejoice free app Evernote. It allows you to create, edit and extract notes for offline use, as well as compose voice memos.
In addition, you can import the resulting images into the application and then process them using Skitch.
23rd place: Snapseed
Snapseed is a versatile image optimization app for both beginners and experienced photographers.
22nd place: Spotify Music
C streaming service Spotify, you can listen to millions of songs legally and for free.
21st: TripAdvisor
To avoid getting into a hotel that will disappoint you, simply check the numerous TripAdvisor user ratings ahead of time. At the same time, you can choose not only hotels. Here you will find evaluations of both restaurants and other leisure activities.
20th place: Instagram
Pump up your photos: 20 effects are available with which you can give your images a style, for example, Gotham. During the test, it turned out smoothly and quickly.
Then a short name is assigned to the photo, the current GPS location is assigned, and now friends can already see the photo news in your Instagram application.
19th place: Translator Translate.Ru
Free Translator Translate.Ru scores points primarily when translating whole phrases and expressions. The history stores the last 50 translations that are available offline. The dictionary is especially helpful in translating texts.
18th place: Gismeteo lite
By using free Android app Gismeteo lite you will be aware of the weather conditions in your area and the forecast for 10 days. GPS positioning tells you where you are right away.
17th place: Runtastic
The best running app on the market.
16th place: Amazon App Store
At the Amazon App-Store, you get one paid app every day for free.
15th place: Netflix
Even if there is no huge TV nearby, Netflix works on both smartphones and tablets.
14th place: QR & Barcode Scanner
Take pictures and compare: With the QR & Barcode Scanner, you quickly get independent product information directly to your Android smartphone.
With the integrated scanner, you can take a photo of the code that is located on almost every product. This can be a European barcode (EAN), a two-dimensional barcode (QR), or an international standard book number (ISBN).
The product and all available information about it, such as price and customer reviews, will quickly appear on your smartphone.
13th place: OneFootball
The OneFootball app cannot be missing on a football fan's mobile phone, providing you with information on individual matches and much more.
Here you can also get detailed reports on all major European championships, the Champions League, Europa League and cup competitions.
Install Toralarme if desired. The application will alert you to the starting whistle and you will never miss a game.
12th place: Chrome
Perhaps everyone knows the desktop version of Chrome. Google itself has released and mobile version popular browser for Android smartphones, which, however, only works on devices with Android 4.0 ("Ice Cream Sandwich") and later.
11th place: VLC for Android
The Android version of "VLC Media Player" - like the original - stands out for its support for a variety of audio and video formats.
10th place: Snapchat
Through Snapchat, you send photos to your friends. The trick is that all the pictures you send will appear for only a few seconds, and after that they will be automatically deleted.
This way, through Snapchat, you can seamlessly send the boldest selfies without worrying about the consequences.
9th place: messenger WhatsApp
Without further ado: you need to install WhatApp if only because all your friends have it.
8th place: Dropbox
The Dropbox online service gives you 2GB of free internet storage that you can use from anywhere. Including, of course, from your mobile phone. Is there any reason to refuse such an offer?
7th place: ES Explorer
ES Explorer is one of the best file managers for Android. In addition, the following features are included: copy, cut, move, thumbnail images, multiple selection, text editing, program management, search, work with ZIP archives and access to an FTP server.
6th place: avast Mobile Security
Viruses lie in wait for you not only on door handles and handrails in trams - there are plenty of them on the Internet. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to protect your mobile phone.
The free application "avast Mobile Security" offers a scanner that will check your applications for malware... In addition, this also gives you a web screen that warns you about dangerous Internet sites.
Among other things, there are call and SMS filters, as well as a practical task manager. Moreover, as the owner of the "hacked" (gerooteten) ??? smartphone, you can benefit from the built-in firewall, as well as the practical anti-theft function.
5th place: Skype
With the VoiP-application "Skype" you can make free calls and communicate over the Internet with millions of other Skype users.
Thanks to the ability to purchase "Skype credits", you can make calls to landline phones.
4th place: Facebook / Messenger
Without official app from Facebook, perhaps a smartphone would only bring half the joy. The messenger gives you direct access to your profile and contacts. Plus, it shows you who sent you a message and friend status updates.
With messenger for Android, you can quickly send a message without having to launch the Facebook app.
3rd place: Plus Messenger
An upgraded version of the Telegram messenger.
2nd place: SPB TV Russia
The free SPB TV Russia application gives you access to many domestic TV channels.
1st place: TubeMate YouTube Downloader
TubeMate YouTube Downloader allows you to download YouTube videos to any Android device. It is also possible to download files in MP3 format.
Photo: manufacturing companies
Of course, everyone understands that the mobile environment is a gold mine for business. In 2018, most people use smartphones for online purchases and mobile apps (over 50%, according to StatCounter). You have your own business and you are thinking about whether to create mobile app?
In this article you will find answers to questions:
- what types of applications are there?
- in what areas of business is it justified to create a mobile application?
- how to understand if an application is needed in your particular case?
Types of mobile applications
Mobile applications for business can be divided into two types:
1) for the internal needs of the company;
2) for marketing, branding and increasing sales.
Purposes of using the first type of applications:
- Business automation;
- Increased productivity working together for example creating sharing to files, connecting messengers social networks and trackers for internal communication, as well as project and task management systems.
Purposes of using the second type of application:
- As an addition to the company's online services: storefronts, catalogs, applications for purchasing tickets, Internet banking, a tracker for the status of delivery of goods, and so on;
- Creation of a mobile loyalty program.
There are certain nuances in using these types of applications. Business automation applications are usually installed on a mandatory basis by all members of the business team. But applications for the company's clients are installed at the request of the clients. Those who need to be convinced: the installation of the application is important, convenient, simple, and solves some problems.
We must be prepared for the fact that a large part of users still do not want to install the application, if the same information can be obtained through mobile browser... They refuse to install the application for several reasons: it is troublesome (you have to search in the online store, download, provide some permissions), takes a long time, takes up space in the device's memory and slows down its operation. All this led to the fact that the popularity of mobile applications gradually began to fade: if five years ago only about 30% of Europeans installed an application once a month, and today more than 60% of users in the world install applications less than once a month.
Who needs a mobile app to solve business problems?
There are areas of business that need a mobile application. For example:
For which companies is this solution not suitable?
This solution is definitely not suitable for small businesses. Many businessmen do not fully understand what kind of waste awaits them after launching a mobile application.
Many users uninstall the application one day after installing them. To prevent this from happening with your application, you need to constantly develop it and allocate considerable funds for this. So what kind of expenses does the company expect after installing the app?
- Improvement funds mobile service and adaptation to new models of gadgets;
- The cost of advertising campaigns and attracting new customers for the application. This includes installing banners, buying traffic, optimizing in app stores, etc.
- Expenses for the salary of the person involved in promoting the application, supporting users and installing new features;
- Additional costs for customer support, call center, which should provide assistance and respond to user comments. And this entails office rental costs and taxes.
Before you start creating an application, weigh everything - and get ready to invest a lot of money and time.
Benefits of mobile apps
- Increase in sales
Increase sales with push notifications about promotions, discounts and bonuses. This motivates customers to come back and shop with you. Moreover, messages can be sent in unlimited quantities also to those who are located near your store, restaurant, etc.
- Marketing Tool
This is a great marketing tool, as information about new products and hits drives additional sales. In addition, by studying the client's browsing history, you can send him only those ads that interest him. This ensures an individual approach to the client.
- Collecting customer information
The mobile application makes it possible to collect information about customers. What do they buy the most, how much money they spend, how often they make purchases. Analytics and data collection can be done using the Skywell Smart Tracking application.
- Communication with customers
- Solving management, logistics and control problems
Mobile applications can improve the efficiency of a company, track the path of goods, and much more.
- Improving the quality of service
For example, Internet banking allows customers to instantly buy tickets, book tables in restaurants, order food, and call a taxi.
- Increased loyalty
By integrating the loyalty program into the application, you can save on purchases plastic cards as well as increase the number of fans of your brand.
- Attraction of new clients
If your application is really useful, it will be recommended to friends and acquaintances. It will also increase your brand awareness.
- Savings on advertising campaign
If you maintain interest in the application, then you can save on advertising campaigns and increase the effectiveness of the application.
How much does it cost to create a mobile app
It costs much more to develop a mobile application for a website than the website itself. Moreover, the return on investment is lower than that of the sites.
You need to understand that this is a long-term investment. In order not to waste a lot of money, your application should be necessary, useful, interesting, profitable and, preferably, free. These are the applications that users love. How to make such an application?
The cost of creating such an application depends on the result you expect. It is better to contact a team of specialists who can integrate the application with your website, CRM or ERP system, accounting. Not every freelancer can handle this kind of work. And if there is enough knowledge, then he knows for sure the price of his services.
You can save money on application development if you use ready-made templates, but in this case it is very difficult to add non-standard options to it.
How to understand if your company needs it
To understand if your company needs something, ask yourself these questions:
- Who are your customers, do they use smartphones? Perhaps your target audience is enough to create a mobile version of the site. You can get this information through the Google and Yandex analytics tools that are installed on your site.
- You need to clearly understand what tasks you want to solve with the application.
- Think about how you plan to promote the app. This will require additional advertising, revision of the site, the introduction of a loyalty program, as well as additional funds for contextual advertising, promotion in App Store and Google Play.
- How will you measure the effectiveness of a business application? What results will be considered a success for you?
When is application development justified?
Application development is justified if you are confident that your application will be used. If you run a small store or restaurant, then this is not for you.
The cost of developing, maintaining and updating the application should pay off the benefits obtained, that is, you must understand the profitability of the project.
For example, business applications are also beneficial in such cases:
- To control remote employees (location, data collection, price monitoring, audit, vehicle control and much more);
- To organize b2b sales (sending orders, viewing stock balances, working with a client base);
- To provide a product catalog;
- To increase sales in b2c, retail segment (ticket sales, ordering goods, table reservations, etc.).
Alternative to application development
Mobile applications are called "native" because they are designed for the operating system of smartphones. Their creation is a rather complicated and expensive process that not all companies can afford.
But in 2015, an alternative to app development emerged - creating an app from a PWA site.
Comparative characteristics of PWA and "native" applications
| PWA | "Native" applications |
| Works even in the absence of the Internet | Work is only possible online |
| To search, just enter the name in Google, click the link and the application on your device. | Hard to find from many similar apps in the market. |
| Application weight - 2 Mb | Weight is about 25 MB |
| Easy to design | Difficult enough to develop |
| Google takes PWA higher in search bar(website promotion on PWA is the same as promotion of a regular website, marketing tools, contextual advertising, SEO are used) | Can't promote with standard Google marketing tools |
| Provides the ability to create one application for all devices, cross-platform development. | It is necessary to create several applications for different devices |
| No updates required. For the client, the content updates of the PWA site occur automatically when the Internet connection is connected ( Service system Workers) | Requires constant updates |
In addition, PWAs provide fresh content and SEO improvement interface.
Users can go to the PWA site through links in social networks while browsing the web. Installation is offered only when you visit the site again and occurs instantly due to the fact that all components are installed in the cache even during the first visit. But even without installation, all the functions of the application will work.
Progressiveness lies in the fact that the application can run on any gadget, anywhere, and the PWA functions expand when the user switches to another, more "advanced" and modern device.
The conversion rate of many companies has increased after the implementation of the web application:
Alibaba, the largest trading platform in the world, has a 76% increase in conversions (a 30% increase in the number of mobile users with Android OS;
The Weather Channel's mobile page loading times are 80 times faster. The channel is included in the top 20 most popular sites in the United States, and after the PWA was connected to the site, the channel became available in countries where there were problems with the quality of the Internet connection - now it works in 62 languages in 178 countries.
Translated from English native means "native". A native application is being developed for mobile phones for a specific operating system. This is done by specialists who have certain knowledge and skills in this area. Native apps have a nice design, they freely interact with the mobile OS, they can work via an Internet connection or offline.
What is it?
A native app is development available for one device platform. For example, there are mobile applications that are created specifically for the Android or iPhone platform. With development modern technologies, the emergence various applications(native, hybrid, web) there is a choice. Native applications are downloaded through special stores (App Store, Google Play) and installed on a smartphone.
The peculiarity is that they are developed for a specific platform, using the "native" programming languages when writing them. If an application is created for a specific operating system, it works well and looks organic. In addition, the application easily uses the functions of the smartphone software, such as a camera, microphone, player, and saves device resources.
One of the most famous examples of native apps is Shazam. It determines which song is playing on the other device. Shazam is installed from the store, requires Internet access, and requires a smartphone voice recorder to work. Instagram is a popular native app that requires a network connection to function.
Purpose
A mobile application in the modern world is a communication channel, communication between people and companies. They are essential in business. Through them, you can sell a service or product, communicate with customers, create a business structure with partners. Phone apps help you optimize internal communication in your company. Today, through mobile applications, you can read newspapers, find out the latest news, watch TV shows, films. And all this regardless of the time of day and location. Applications are ways to promote products, present services. This is a great marketing tool. In addition, through mobile applications, you can visit social networks, chat with friends and do business. The peculiarity is that developers can make a smartphone application to order, especially for a specific project.
There are three main stages in the development of native business applications. The first is adapting an existing website for a smartphone (creating a web application). The second stage is the creation of hybrid applications that combine web technologies and mobile functions. The third step is writing a native mobile phone application. It is the most resource-intensive, but it allows you to realize the capabilities of the operating system of the device and achieve the intended results due to the extended functionality of the smartphone. The popularity of native applications depends on their high performance, debugging, stability, and the ability to work without the Internet. Subsequent uploading to the app store allows the developer to track sales statistics. Use native applications if you need to process a huge amount of data and high speed of work.
Views
The types of mobile applications: native, web and hybrid have similarities. Natives are written specifically for operating systems such as iOS. Android, Win Phone. They are downloaded through app stores and comply with their requirements. Native apps run fast and smoothly thanks to OS-specific optimizations. They have access to device functions. These applications can run from the Internet or offline.
Web applications have similarities with mobile versions of sites, but they have advanced interactivity. They are created in order to be able to use the site through a smartphone. Its main difference: the application does not need to be installed. All work is done through the browser. The difference between a native and a web application is the ability to freely manipulate information.
Hybrid combines the functions of the previous two. The application works with smartphone software as it is cross-platform. Loaded from the app store, works over the Internet. The hybrid application is the most popular among the users. Native is used if you need a high speed of information processing (social networks, games or geolocation). Remember that native Android apps not suitable for iPhones or smartphones with other platforms.
Advantages
A native app has a number of advantages. High performance, interaction with a specific operating system, low power consumption, phone memory, ease of use. The advantages of this application include maximum functionality and excellent speed, access to the smartphone software, in some cases no Internet connection is required to use it. You can download and install the application only through a special store.
disadvantages
The native app has drawbacks. It takes a lot of time to develop, the cost of such an application is higher. The developer is required to know a certain programming environment. In addition, the native works with a single operating system. If you need to change anything in the application, you need to release an update.
How to install?
The native mobile application is installed taking into account the operating system of the smartphone. In order to select the required application, go to any store, for example Google Play, and select the appropriate one. Download it and install it. Typically, the application will work if there is an Internet connection. If you can't install, check the storage capacity of your smartphone. It should be sufficient for installation.
Native code
What does "native application" mean? For many, this phrase will seem new, but in fact, almost all modern gadget users encounter it every day. For the native application to work correctly, developers write special code. This is a command system, a machine language that will be interpreted by a smartphone. The instructions in the application will allow the user to realize its capabilities to its fullest. Developer commands can be of different lengths and ranges. Native apps are fast because of the large but small code.
These applications are Java. It gives developers great opportunities. Its versatility, convenience allows you to create in as soon as possible simple corporate applications. The nice thing about Java development is that its tools are available on all PC operating systems that include Linux and MacOS. If you want to develop Java applications, you need a MacOS X computer. iOS app differs from Android in the amount of development time.
Price
Free native mobile app builder helps users create one themselves. There are a lot of constructors on the web. The most popular and well-known are My-apps, Net2Share, BuildApp, MobiumApps, Appsa4u. For example, the My-apps constructor independently assembles an application for operating iOS systems and Android. Users can choose from ten ready-made templates, depending on the purpose of the application. Final result can be published in the store for download.
Full native development is not cheap. Before planning it, decide on a budget. It should consist of funds for the promotion of the finished product and the development itself. If an application is being prepared for multiple operating systems, its cost doubles. It's about developing for legal entities, for example, trading companies. Hybrid apps cost 30% more than native apps, while the web low price due to a single code base, so it is more profitable to develop them than native ones.
Creation of native applications is always a huge waste of money and there are no standard projects, applications are developed individually for each customer. The price includes design, the number of operating systems, the use of technologies for writing code, the complexity of the work, testing, publication and other nuances. A complex application can cost several million rubles. And this is only development. Publications, tests and other services need additional funding. That is why applications are ordered by large business companies that are ready to call themselves such a benefit. Applications further bring good income and pay off over time. Doing business, expanding the increase in demand for products, creating a positive image are the advantages of mobile applications.
Performance
How the application will work depends on the performance of the smartphone. Natives have direct access to the phone's platform and features, which positively impacts their productivity. Hybrid apps, if done correctly, can render the web native. The performance of web applications depends on the speed of the Internet connection, so it may work differently for several users.
Spreading
After development, the native Windows application, Android, iOS should reach users. Distribution through app stores is the most the best option... There are special requirements for the finished product that the developer should adhere to in advance. They depend on the internal policies of the store. If the app is successful, users download it, and the owner receives a profit and an increase in the rating. Remember that adding any content (native and hybrid) to the app store requires a confirmation process.
About 20% of traffic on the RuNet is accounted for by mobile operating systems. And this figure continues to gain momentum. Isn't this a reason to think about whether to adapt your site for mobile traffic, because this is a completely different audience.
Responsive design for different screen resolutions of electronic gadgets has long become a modern standard in website development. However, the percentage of such sites on the Internet is still not great. And there are even fewer sites that have their own mobile version. So is it worth creating a separate version of the site for mobile phones, or is it enough to make the design responsive?
Why does a website need a mobile version?
- It is much more convenient to use the mobile version of the site from smartphones and mobile phones: there is no need for horizontal scrolling, all the functionality works correctly (on some non-adapted sites it is impossible to even put a product in the cart!).
- In the mobile version, you can develop additional features aimed specifically at this target group of visitors: organize SMS sending directly from the site, determine the location and distance to the nearest point of sale, etc.
- Navigation of such sites is made adapted for the touch screen (Touch screen), which is also much more convenient.
- The mobile version of the site is lighter, has a less bulky code, so it loads faster, which reduces the user's cost of downloading it when paying for mobile traffic.
- Search engines use mobile search for phones, so the mobile version of the site will be ranked higher in it, which means there will be more conversions to your site.
Types of the mobile version of the site
The mobile version can be identical to the main site: repeat structure, content, design. This effect can be achieved even with special services, without resorting to developers.
Independent mobile version of the site. Here the structure and functionality are completely changed, only the style correspondence is repeated, partly the elements and content, so that the user knows that he is on the same site.
What is required for the mobile version of the site?
- Design. Perhaps the most important component. The latest design trends for mobile sites are the ultimate in lightness and simplicity.
- Compatibility. The site should display correctly on the most popular screen resolutions (240x320, 480x320 and some others). On such sites it is better not to use javascript or use a minimum of javascript, use xhtml.
- Optimization of content. This is especially true for pictures: they should be light both in size and in kilobytes.
- Usability. Good navigation is the key to a successful mobile site!
Mobile version or responsive design?
You will not find an exact answer to this question. There are various points of view that rely on the disadvantages of both one and the second option.
The main disadvantages of responsive design refer to the fact that the "weight" of the site remains large, which means that the site will still take a long time to load. In developing adaptive design simpler than the mobile version, however, it cannot be disabled on the mobile screen, while if the user does not like the mobile version, he can always go to the standard version of the site.
Which sites need a mobile version?
Research shows that it is advisable to create a mobile version of the site for the following types of sites:
- Reference site
- Social networks and services
- Web services
- Online Stores
If you have already thought about whether your site needs a mobile version or not, analyze the traffic to the site over the past year through analytics systems. If the share of mobile traffic is 15% or more, the answer is obvious!
Numbers
Haven't you decided yet? Then consider these statistics:
- Mobile phones are used by 87% of the total population. Apparently, only small children do not have them!
- The growth of mobile commerce is predicted to increase 99 times in the next 5 years!
- Only 21% of sites are adapted to work with mobile devices... You still have a chance to get your share of the traffic!
Useful statistics are shown below in the infographic (clickable).
The world of modern technologies has been developing quite rapidly in recent years. Today, everyone has, in addition to the usual personal computer, a bunch of different gadgets like smartphone, tablet, mp3 player, etc.
Now each of us has the opportunity to communicate with people anywhere in the world, check mail, plunge into the world of games and so on. A mobile application is software which was created to work on tablets and smartphones. You can order its development on the website www.fixapp.ru.
Home computer or a laptop is not very convenient items, since moving them is a very time-consuming process. In order to make life easier for people, so-called "smart" phones - smartphones - were created, as well as many other mobile devices.
Mobile add-ons were originally designed for quick access to e-mail... Such an application was in very high demand, so this area began to develop rapidly.
This expansion was facilitated by rapid developments such as cellular communication and wireless technologies... On this moment more and more people are surfing the Internet from mobile devices.
So, since today almost everyone carries a smartphone and others portable devices, mobile add-ons allow you to have fast access to the information you need.
Mobile apps have the following advantages:
- convenient access to the e-mail service;
- the ability to enter any social network;
- the presence of various games;
- useful programs for life.
The benefits of mobile add-ons
Every day a person can quickly and easily check his mail, send an unlimited number of messages, regardless of their capacity. Each of us is registered in a large number of social networks, in which case the mobile application makes it much easier to access them on a smartphone and other mobile device.
A wide range of games in the world of applications helps to entertain a person in his free time on the road, at work and at home. In addition to fun games, there are useful applications such as book reading programs, recipes for all occasions, exercise programs, weight loss diaries, and so on.
Plus, mobile apps are a great marketing tool for any business. Such add-ons help to quickly distribute necessary information for a specific person, effectively interact with customers, strengthen the company's image, optimize business processes, and also receive income from the sale of applications.
What is a mobile application, see the video: