I
hate most iPad and iPhone apps. There, I said it. In this world we live in where jumping on the bandwagon is expected in order to keep up with the competition, every company or artistic project seems to be working on an app. And it’s not a good idea.
For one thing there are too many available already. In October Apple announced that there were one million apps available in the iTunes Store and a total of 60 billion had been downloaded already. Shortly before that, Google announced that there were 900,000 available from Google Play and over 50 billion Android apps downloaded. That figure has no doubt increased to match Apple’s by now.
Besides the fact that we’re already inundated, the real problem is that most apps (except for games and utility apps) don’t work as well as the website they hope to replace. I’ve gotten to the point where I just use the browser on my tablet and phone instead of most apps that I’ve installed, which leaves the tiny programs taking up space in the background (I have to get around to deleting them soon).
Sports is a great example, with dozens of apps for every individual genre, and for the most part, every one that I’ve tried is frustrating. I keep on going back to ESPN on the browser for game updates. In fact, even ESPN’s own app isn’t as good as its website.
One of the reasons I believe that apps don’t make the grade is the fact that website user interface technology is very mature, and most companies have had years to tighten up any deficiencies. The Obamacare site may have problems, but guess what? That’s common for most websites, as the bugs get ironed out over time. True, this can happen with an app as well, but so few are well conceived in the first place (You can almost hear someone at the company saying, “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s make this into an app!”). It’s almost like reinventing the wheel with a flat spot on it. It still rolls, but not nearly as well as the original.
I’ve been asked by artists, bands, record labels and book publishers whether it’s a good idea to do an app based around their latest album or book. I tell them to save their time and money. There are too many apps already, the world doesn’t need another one unless it does something really special. And you know what? There’s just not much that’s extraordinarily unique in an artistic endeavor of any type that can make anyone want to buy and use an app based on it. Sure, there’s been a few clever ones by Bjork and Lady Gaga, but after you dive into it once, there’s little desire to return, so it sits idly by ever after. As for an app for a book – most people would rather refer to an ebook than an app from my observation.
That’s why I urge any artist, band, author or company currently considering developing an app, please be sure that the app serves a real purpose, be doubly sure if its entertainment related, then think again. Remember the mantra – There are too many apps already!
