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No, I’m not talking about apps that help you kill someone, something or even stink bugs. Instead, I’m discussing the apps that convince people that they need to get a smartphone. Let’s face it, if you’re just need your cell phone to be, well, a phone, then you don’t need a smartphone. But if the idea of having a portable computer in your pocket appeals to you, then you’re a candidate for a smartphone.
Smartphones can be expensive, to buy and to maintain a data plan, so you shouldn’t get a smartphone unless you have a good reason to get one. That reason is called a killer app.
Background
Way back in ancient times, people didn’t see any need to own a computer. Then the killer app came along, the spreadsheet, and people started to understand how useful a computer could be. The spreadsheet is widely regarded as the killer app for the computer but there is no one app that is widely regarded as the killer app for smartphones.
The reason there is no single killer app for smartphones is because the growth of the app market in Apple’s App Store was so rapid and diverse, the quality and quantity of apps made a smartphone called the iPhone appealing. Smartphones running Google’s Android operating system added to the variety of choices of phones and apps. Suddenly people started comparing smartphones and apps with each other, showing off the increased usefulness of their investments.
Ground Rules
For an app to be a smartphone killer app it must need a smartphone with a data plan. An app that can work on an iPod Touch using Wi-Fi shouldn’t be a reason to get a smartphone. The exception, of course, is that if you need the app to work in places you don’t normally have Wi-Fi, such as a car or while you’re out shopping.
Killer App Examples
A killer app can be as simple as email. If you need to access your email when you’re out and about, then a smartphone is ideal for you. Perhaps you like to check in on Faceook when you’re away from home. Or maybe you see some severe storm clouds on the horizon and want to check your Weather Channel app for live satellite pictures of your area.
Shopping apps can be helpful when you’re at a store trying to decide between two products. You can use a smartphone app like Amazon or Google Shopper to check reviews and compare prices at other stores.
Similarly, the
re are many apps like Flight Update that will give you information about the expected time a plane will arrive at an airport, which can be handy if you need to go to the airport but won’t be near a computer before you head there.
My killer app was a basic one, Google Maps that comes pre-installed on most smartphones. The Google Maps app has a very cool feature called “Show Traffic”. I knew about this nifty trick from owning an iPod Touch but I couldn’t access the app when I was away from Wi-Fi before I owned a smartphone.
One day when I was driving my girls home from school, I came across slow traffic on the highway. If I had a smartphone then, I could have had my daughter check Google Maps and use Show Traffic to see how bad the traffic jam was. With Show Traffic activated the roads are colored red, green and yellow, according to the speed of the traffic flow. One glance at the map and we would have known to get off at the next exit. But we didn’t have a smartphone in the car or any other way to access that information so we stayed on the highway, figuring using the back roads would take much longer. Instead, what was normally a 20 minute trip took over two hours. Soon after that I got my iPhone.
Combining some of these apps shows how several apps might work together to be “killer”. Let’s say you are on your way to the airport to leave on a short trip. You are caught in a traffic jam that has slowed the traffic to a halt. You pull out your phone and check Google Maps. You see that the jam lasts for miles but the alternate route is clear so you should get off at the next exit, just two-tenths of a mile away. Checking your weather app, you see that an isolated storm is nearby which may delay flights. You check Flight Update and see, sure enough, your flight is delayed an hour, giving you plenty of time to make it to the airport even with the traffic jam. You find out the gate where your flight is scheduled to depart from and you check your boarding pass which you have loaded onto your smart phone. Your stress is significantly reduced because you know you will make it to the airport in time and can speed through to your gate when you get there.
Summary
With the phenomenal growth of smartphone and app sales worldwide, more people are jumping on the smartphone bandwagon every day. So what killer app pushed you or will push you over the edge to get a smartphone? If you have a smartphone, which killer app convinced you that you needed a smartphone? If you’re debating getting one, which app seems to be the most appealing? Please comment below to let us know about your killer app!
Thanks to you iRewards Chart has become my favorite apps. Not only has it been a game changer with the kids, but I use it with my running partners as well. “Pling!” We deserve a reward too! And who doesn’t love receiving stars???
I also like the Kroger app. We download digital coupons which when combined w paper coupons – cha-ching!!
I use the Google Maps app, especially when visiting an unfamiliar town to help locate various stores/places. I had no idea about the traffic option. I’ll be checking that out. Thanks!!!
Hi Avery, Welcome to the Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad you are enjoying the benefits of iReward Chart. You’re absolutely right, we all deserve stars!
I will be letting you know about other helpful apps in future blog posts. Stay tuned!
+1 on iRewards Chart. What a great discovery.
Hi Kikki, So glad you’re enjoying iReward Chart. That app can make a huge difference in family dynamics!
I got my iPhone because I wanted email and internet when I was away from my home and office. I’m looking forward to learning more about apps from this blog.
Hi Jo, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech and thank you for your comment. Stay tuned for future blog posts about helpful apps!
1. Bloomberg – 24/7 market prices & news
2. bank apps – no more lost bills, late payments. If a bill comes in the mail it’s paid before I get through the front door.
3. Sportacular – best sports app out there
Btw, thanks for explaining RSS. I always wondered what that was.
Hi Alex, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I am a big fan of the Bloomberg app too. It’s easy to follow your stock portfolio and other stocks as well.
There are many great banking apps out there. Be careful with your security though. Make sure you phone is password protected in case it is ever lost or stolen.
I’m glad you enjoyed the blog on RSS. Now you’ll know what those orange squares are for!
MLB is the best. Watch games live. Stats.
Go Phillies!!!!!!!!
Hi Mark, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I haven’t tried MLB app but I know others who have it and swear by the app. MLB is also very highly rated in the App Store. Baseball fans might consider this a killer app with opening day coming soon!
Trulia & Mint. We’re house hunting.
Hi Nicole, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thanks for the app suggestions. If you’re house hunting, you may want to check out the realtor.com app. I have it on my iPhone even though we aren’t house hunting. I like it because it can find houses for sale close to where you have your phone. So if you’re going by a house and see a For Sale sign, you can launch the app and find out all the details about the house, including asking price and pictures.
+1 ireward chart. It’s a game changer. Our kids love it. Thanks for telling us about it. Your video was a riot.
Hi Tina, Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you are enjoying iReward Chart and the video. Stay tuned for future blog posts on helpful apps!
aol radio. I can listen to my favorite Philly sports station wherever.
sportacular.
sudoku.
accuweather.
Hi Ken, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Those are great app suggestions. I also like TuneIn Radio so I can listen to my favorite radio stations wherever.
Hampster Soup. I’m a huge Big Brother fan. My sister gave me the app as a gift. (I have NO idea how she did that.) It’s awesome. I can check what’s going on in the bb house 24-7 while in a meeting, at baseball games, on the phone…
It’s a seasonal app, but it rocks.
Hi Leigh, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I love the Hamster Soup app! I’m a Big Brother fan too and that app was really handy for keeping up with the show during Big Brother Season.
It’s easy to gift an app from the App Store (I’m thinking you have an iPhone since Hamster Soup isn’t available in the Android Market). For paid apps, click on the down arrow next to the Buy App button. You will see a drop down menu and the first choice is Gift This App. Just make sure the email address where you send the app is the one used by the gift recipient for her iTunes account.
Thanks so much for asking how to to gift an app from the App Store!
Nicely done, Carolyn!
A lot of the in-the-cloud business productivity services are getting in on the action. For example, my favorite online project management service recently released a smartphone app (in the App Store) so teams on the go could update projects, sign off, check tasks, etc.
The thing I find wonderful about smartphone apps is sometimes you have to pay to play but at other times, if you’re already paying for a service, using the app for free is a value-added benefit. (Does that qualify as “killer”?) 🙂
Hi Vernessa, Thank you for your kind words. That sounds like a great app that would bring efficiency to business teams. That app could definitely be a Killer App. What is the name of the app?
I enjoy free apps, but I also find value in paid apps. The prices in the App Store tend to be very reasonable so I rarely hesitate due to price when I find an app I like. I do cringe, however, at the price of my kids’ Wii games which seemed expensive at first, but even moreso now when I compare them to the prices of iPhone and iPad games.
I also like when I can get content for free on my iPad or iPhone because I have paid for it elsewhere, such as with Kindle books and publications such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal. But that pricing model may soon change.
This app is based on the same pricing model as those you get with your Kindle and publications: free but only because you are paying for the service. In this case, you’d get the mobile project management app as a result of your monthly (or yearly) subscription to TeamworkPM. They call it the Official Teamwork iPhone App. Sounds rather officious, doesn’t it? 🙂
Have a great weekend, Carolyn!
Hi Vernessa, That sounds like a very useful app! Do you anticipate any difficulties with Apple’s proposed subscription pricing model?
Hope you have a good weekend too!
I can’t really weigh in on these debates as I don’t give that much attention to these gadgets.
Speaking generally, I would only say that any subscription model that compromises — or attempts to usurp — publisher’s relationships with their consumers, is likely to meet resistance. Everybody wants to make money and protect relationships. They go hand in hand.
Consumers and their gadgets are joined at the hip, and it’s likely they won’t mind paying a monthly or yearly subscription fee, because they’re already used to paying monthly (for convenience) or yearly (when savings can be had) for many other services in their everyday lives.
But they won’t want to be railroaded. They will not be happy with fewer options. And they’re not likely to pay more for anything that they perceive to have less value.
Of course, I’ll look to you to keep me informed on debates such as these! 🙂
Hi Vernessa, Thanks for coming back to The Wonder of Tech and staying to comment. I was referring to Apple’s proposed subscription rules for the App Store that requires app developers to charge for subscription services through the App Store. Apple then charges the app developer 30% of the subscription fees collected from the user. Apple’s proposed subscription rules are supposed to begin in June, but Apple’s proposal is being reviewed for antitrust issues by both the US government and the European Union.
Nothing is in force yet, but I find it interesting that you didn’t know about Apple’s proposed rules, so maybe Apple won’t go through with its proposed subscription rules?
Hey Carolyn,
I had to laugh … don’t be surprised at me not knowing about Apple’s rules. 🙂 I don’t even own an app — of any sort.
Old-fashioned as I am, I do most everything over the ‘Net — even text messaging (via Google Voice). While I mentioned the project management app above, it’s because it is the kind of thing I make sure clients are aware of (since a number of them use online project management at my request) … but it is highly unlikely I will ever have need of it.
Hi Vernessa, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! Lots of people prefer to access the internet from their computers instead of from mobile devices. But it is helpful that you have your apps for your clients who do use mobile devices. I’m sure they find the app very useful.