Applications, specifically mobile applications are used everyday for practically everything. A mobile app is, "a computer program designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers,” (Autili, M., Malavolta, I., Perucci, A. et al., 2021). Mobile apps were originally created to find information or for productivity purposes. Long gone are the days of going to the library to find a book to use for research, having to wait for a show to broadcast on TV at its allotted time, or having to listen to the radio to hear a song. Now, users can use mobile apps for everything from, streaming movies and tv shows on demand, finding an article to reference or read from your mobile devices, and listen to any song at any time. These days, “the digital media usage time is driven by mobile devices, with smartphone and tablets accounting for 66% of all time spent, against desktop usage which accounts for 34%. Specifically, more than 80% of mobile minutes in all markets are spent on mobile apps,”(Autili, M., Malavolta, I., Perucci, A. et al., 2021). There are three categories that a mobile app typically falls in. Native apps, which are apps run on mobile devices’s OS, where apps need to be adapted for each device. Web-based apps use a web browser on a mobile device. Hybrid apps are web-based apps that are inside a native app. The increasing supply and popularity of mobile apps can be contributed to the introduction of app stores. These app stores are used to download apps directly to mobile devices. There are millions of apps available where for a plethora of different categories, like messaging, consumer purchasing, health, sharing videos, etc. Success of an app is related to how much it is being used, how the users rate the app, and the revenue that it brings in. Being that the user’s opinion of the app is so important, developers tend to focus on what users want in an app.
Mobile apps contain files that are downloaded to mobile devices and stored locally. “Mobile apps are developed atop the services provided by their underlying mobile platform (e.g., Android). Those services are exposed via a dedicated Application Programming Interface (API) with methods related to communication and messaging, graphics, security. Programming languages and tools for developing mobile apps are platform-specific (e.g., Java code for Android apps, and Swift code for Apple iOS apps), and present many challenges that may hamper the success of a mobile app as a whole,” (Autili, M., Malavolta, I., Perucci, A. et al., 2021). Mobile developers assess and focus on the important features of a mobile app, like its mobility, sensors, location services, and even custom features like input method and gestures. They make sure the app os running smoothly for the users. Developers may face challenges like fragmentation across and within the platforms. They also have to keep up with updates and changes. User information is important to the user and the developer, so app security, is vital to the success of the app. It’s important for developers to constantly update apps with security features and potentially close any vulnerabilities.
Users look for apps that can almost guarantee certain app properties which include: “low energy consumption, efficient use of computational resources, security, performance, and reliability,” (Autili, M., Malavolta, I., Perucci, A. et al., 2021). If the needs of the users are met, developers can increase the quality of their app and revenue. If users run into issues like poor quality, crashes, malicious behavior, lack of responsiveness and memory/energy consumption, then they’ll give the app a low rating and not use the app anymore.
The future of mobile apps is unknown, but theoretically, mobile apps will continue to be a stable in everyone’s lives and as time goes on will further be integrated into our everyday activities.
references:
- Autili, M., Malavolta, I., Perucci, A. et al. Software engineering techniques for statically analyzing mobile apps: research trends, characteristics, and potential for industrial adoption. J Internet Serv Appl 12, 3 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13174-021-00134-x
- Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all.
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