Early Warning Signs: App Usage On Mobile Phones Still Not That Impressive
from the don't-get-swept-up dept
Like many people, I recently got an Android-powered smartphone, and had plenty of fun seeking out various apps to make the phone "better." It can be pretty cool at times, but even I've realized that I use a very small percentage of the apps I got, and I rarely go looking for new apps these days. Nearly two years ago, we discussed a study highlighting how many iPhone apps were installed, but went unused, and wondered if that might be an early warning sign that apps aren't quite as popular as people think they are. Of course, these days, app hype has reached ridiculous levels, with many companies literally betting their business models on the success of apps. There definitely is value in apps, but I do worry that the focus on apps is leading people to overestimate their importance.Some new evidence echoes that study from a couple years ago, and again suggests that those who are now obsessed with apps may wish to be at least a bit cautious about the opportunity. Nate was the first of a few to point us to the latest Pew study, which also shows an awful lot of people with smartphones that have apps, just don't use them. Of course, some of it may be semantics. The study notes that there may be confusion over whether or not pre-installed functionality is an app or not. Still, it should remain at least a cautious warning sign that app downloads does not mean app usage...
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: apps, smartphones, usage
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The March To Keep Fear Alive
How did you get an upgrade before your two years, Mike?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The March To Keep Fear Alive
Nope. Whatever gave you that idea?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rapid Iteration
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Rapid Iteration
3. Don't worry about the new, focus on the next.
Fail and fail fast. At Quirky, every product we develop, whether it�s a runaway success or a huge flop, teaches us valuable lessons that we can apply to future iterations of that product or other products. Whether it�s a failure, success, or something in-between, there's always something to learn from each iteration. We�re never �done,� which allows us to stay on our toes and figure out what's the next step for that initiative, instead of worrying about what was just delivered.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Is it the app's fault? Sometimes. Most of the time, they don't fulfill any desire that I originally thought I had.
That said: I have a Motorola Droid, first gen. I have four home screens that I put stuff on. I probably have over 100 apps on this thing. Virtually everything I use is on the first screen (12 icons). The screen to the right is all speed dials (5 icons) and the screen to the left is a couple of news feeds (three icons). The outter home screens are empty. I rarely ever touch my app button that brings up everything, though, every now and then I do go in there for something.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Desktop OS have even more apps, should I use them all?
Windows have literally thousands of apps, and on my computer installed only 3. OMG, app usage on computers in not impressive! PC software vendors will fail soon!
Techdirt really disappointing sometimes
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Desktop OS have even more apps, should I use them all?
I would expect the number apps in use to go up as network speed/reliability, battery life, and phone processor speeds go up, but not in a huge way. This also has to do with it being a new market that people are still trying to find out how people use their phones so they can deliver software that really works for the users.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Desktop OS have even more apps, should I use them all?
This is about the perceived value of apps to consumers. If my app usage is something like 90% toiletfuntime, 8% accidental pocket activation, and 2% actual usage; you can be sure I'm not going to pay a lot for an app.
And while it feels like a new market, this is really just moving the development sphere away from the vendors and opening a market previously monopolized by telecoms. The calculator on my phone from 2000 was just an app from Verizon. You've been able to download locked-in vendor apps for a decade or more.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Desktop OS have even more apps, should I use them all?
This is still a very new market for general mobile applications.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
App usage
I download many apps that meet a *potential* need, even if it is unlikely that I ever really need/use the app. For example, I don't travel much at all, but I have a translator app, an app that performs currency exchange calculations, an app that allows me to book airline, hotel and rental car reservations, etc. I don't go out to the movies much, but I have an app that can tell me what's currently playing in every theater for miles around, along with show times and the ability to buy tickets instantly online. I am not a scientist or organic chemist, but I have a periodic table app, just in case I should ever need to quickly know the melting point of Francium (27 degrees Celsius.) You get the idea.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Robust Web Browsers
Anyone who is focused on apps is not seeing the big picture - they're just blinded by $.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I like the Swiss Army Knife analogy..
I use the games and e-book reader apps when I have down time. I used to carry a book with me all the time, but now it is unnecessary. Just fire up the phone, and play around...
It is good to know the stuff is there, when I want it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Wired's iPad lovefest
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I Use a Crapload of Apps
About half of those see constant use, the rest are occasional use or apps that only have use in uncommon circumstances.
I don't understand why people would even have these phones if they weren't using them to they extent they could be, such as I do.
I've had the phone since it's release and I still check the Market for new useful apps.
Don't tend to find as many these days, but I still look.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I tried some of the utility apps that were appropriate for my line of work, but none could begin to rival my ultraportable in functionality. All were deleted.
When Google and ~100+ companies were breached by China, and none of them fully disclosed the breach, I deleted my Google account, and stopped using my phone for anything personal beyond basic communication. Tinfoil hat, but there are 100+ companies out there with rooted infrastructure so bad that they refuse to disclose how badly to the public.
My next phone hopefully will be a Linux-based device that is not tied to any exclusive provider. I rarely use the phone part of the phone, so I won't miss voice.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A lot like songs
So we might start saying "apps are like music." There are more of them than anyone can consume, but keep them coming.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Software Overrated?
Recent studies are showing that of all the software purchased for desktop computers, much of it goes unused after a certain amount of time - leading researchers to wonder - Is it really worthwhile to write software?
This begs the important question: If you write software and people buy it and then don't use it, how will this affect your future profit potential? Perhaps you should take a long hard look at your business model and ask yourself if this whole "software writing and then selling to people who may not use it" thing is really worth all the hassle...
Yeah, you might want to be cautious about that "opportunity"
CBMHB
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
So?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: So?
This has nothing to do with the long tail. It has to do with people thinking apps are more popular than they really are.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
When needed.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]