The document discusses mobile apps and widgets. It describes how mobile apps have extended device functionality beyond what manufacturers intended. It also notes that games dominate 1/3 of the app market. It lists several major app stores and their market shares, led by Apple's App Store and Google Play. Apps are only active when opened, while widgets continuously run small programs like clocks and calendars. Widgets can add functionality and live updates to apps and websites. Creating cross-platform mobile apps requires significant resources initially but offers engagement benefits and low ongoing costs to update.

1. Mobile Apps &
Widgets
Intro to MobileTechnology: Section 2

2. Mobile Apps
 Mobile devices are becoming
more sophisticated, creating
opportunities for mobile apps
to extend functionality
beyond that which the
original manufacturer
intended.
 “Games” category dominates
1/3 of the app market

3. Stores that sell Apps
 Apple App Store
 Google Play
 Blackberry AppWorld
 Nokia Store
 Amazon Appstore
 Microsoft Windows Phone
Store
 Best app stores ranked by
ABIresearch (Jan 2013) based
on market share and
monetization
1. Apple – 50 billion
downloads
2. Google – 48 billion DL
3. Microsoft – 500,000 DL

4. Differences betweenApp Stores
 Not all app stores have the same applications and not all apps
are available on every platform
 Example: LotteryHUB is available on the iOS and Android
platforms, so it can be found in (but not limited to) the App
Store and Google Play
Store Available Platform(s) Available Apps
App Store iOS 850,000
Google Play Android 800,000
BlackberryWorld Blackberry OS 120,000
Windows Phone Store Windows Phone 145,000

6. Apps vs.Widgets
 Apps are 3rd party software
programs. Apps only run
when activated
 Widgets are small
applications that
continuously run a specific
function
 Ex: clocks, calendars,
weather forecasts etc.

7. Widgets…Why &Where
Widget Benefits:
 Add Functionality to an
existing application
 Create rich user experience
and seamless communication
channels
 Provide faster access to
information
 Save time with live updates
Widgets on:
 Desktop – self-contained
applications like games or
clocks
 Application – enhance
functionality of an existing
app
 Web – monitor external
events by extracting data like
flight times or stock prices

8. Apps for the fully developed
 Creating a mobile app accessible by multiple device
platforms can consume large amounts of time and money –
Unless one is readily available 
 However, the greater functionality and engagement
opportunity can easily outweigh the production cost
 Once created mobile apps are relatively inexpensive to
update and modify
 Widgets can be added to mobile apps with simple code
insertion

9. Section 2 Complete. Nice job!
Next Section: Mobile Optimized vs.
Non Optimized