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People now spend more time using apps than watching TV

Mobile apps are taking over — but, really, are you surprised?

A new report from Flurry says people are spending more time in mobile apps than watching TV. In 2015, U.S. consumers spent 198 minutes in mobile apps per day compared to 168 minutes watching TV. That time in mobile apps is up from 139 minutes in 2014 and 126 minutes in 2013, and that doesn’t include time spent in mobile browsers.

The report also notes it’s difficult to quantify how much of that time spent on apps overlaps with time spent on TV, since lots of people use their phones while watching TV. And while apps are making headway, TV usage isn’t decreasing. while apps are making headway, TV usage isn’t decreasing.

Meanwhile, mobile users have been trained to pay for content, according to the report. Games have traditionally dominated the top-grossing charts of app stores.And with a growth in sales from in-app purchases, traditional media companies could “move its content to apps and stream it over-the-top, charge consumers for it through the App Stores, and still make money from ads,” the report concludes.

Flurry’s data comes at the cusp of the new Apple TV announcement. At Wednesday’s Apple event, CEO Tim Cook said the television experience has been static while mobile innovation has flourished. His response is a simple vision: “We believe the future of television is apps. In fact, this transition has already begun.” With the Apple TV’s new OS supporting apps and an App Store for third-party apps, users can stream content from Netflix as well as shop and play games.

With new features like these, one thing is clear: The future of television means more than just watching television.

http://mashable.com/2015/09/12/time-on-mobile-apps/#qQ.Eq8Sb0Pkj

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The Importance of User Experience for Mobile Apps

Today, mobile application development technology is evolving at a very shocking pace. However, in a market where quality and performance always come before brand loyalty, creating a fluid user experience (UX) is key to the success of any mobile app development project.

User experience is becoming an increasingly crucial feature when it comes to the digital landscape. It defines how the user feels and thinks about your product from his or her own perspective. It is about making something valuable, easy to use and effective for your target market.

Therefore, there is a need to adopt a user-centered approach to mobile application development that gives emphasis to the needs of target users. Improved UX translates into several key benefits for the companies that provide it, and here are some of them:

1. Loyal User Base :

Everyone has the experience of using an app with lots of bugs and errors, complexities, frustrating interactions and unexpected behaviors. The truth is that, a poorly designed application reduces customer loyalty. Users won’t have a high tolerance for unstable applications and nothing can turn them away faster than a bad first impression. You may not be able to foster a lasting relationship with users.

2. Reduce Support Costs :

A well-designed app can save you money and time. Consumers regularly struggle with simple issues that solutions can easily be found on a well-designed app. Mobile applications give customers a way to not only find solutions but to connect with your business 24/7, irrespective of where they are. They can offer direct personal calls with sales people, access to a help desk, live chat and even provide on-going support to customers.
3. Increased Customer Satisfaction :

Customer satisfaction is one of the keys to running a successful business. Success in any industry is often measured by the number of satisfied customers. The better experience you provide for your clients, the more satisfied they will be – and the opposite is true. The worse experience you create for your customers, the more frustrated they will become with your offering. They will rarely recommend your product to their friends and relatives. The same applies to mobile applications.

The most common reason why users might abandon or delete an app is poor user experience. If an app can’t provide a positive first impression, it is probably going to frustrate users and it is likely going to be deleted.

4. Increased Sales :

A well-designed app will have increased traffic, transactions, and conversations. These apps will attract and keep more clients who will buy more products and leave positive feedback. Happy customers often spread the word to their friends and families. Users won’t share your app if it fails to meet their expectations. They also review your application online, which plays an important role in convincing other potential users to download the application. Also, the reviews reflect the current user satisfaction with the application. Remember online reviews is a trusted sources of information, and building trust with users is a key component in ensuring that more people download and use the app.

5. It Gives You an Edge Over the Competition:

It is nearly impossible to stand out in a crowd of well over a million. It is important that your app stands out from the rest. However, making your product stand out in a saturated market is not as easy as you think.While there are a lot of tricky gimmicks that you can try to make your app noticeable, you need to involve the user from the beginning in order to succeed. You have to make sure your item is user-friendly – before anything else. Users are attracted to apps that can provide them with what they really want.

 

http://www.business2community.com/mobile-apps/importance-user-experience-mobile-apps-01321326

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36% of Smartphone Owners Use Messaging Apps, Says Research

Small business owners seeking to use social media to connect with customers may want to take a closer look at mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Kik, and iMessage.
Those are among the more popular types of apps that smartphone owners are using, according to a recent study.
Specifically, these messaging apps are most popular among young-adult users, the survey says, It notes that 49% of smartphone owners ages 18 to 29 use these apps. While 41% use apps such as Snapchat or Wickr which automatically delete sent messages after a short time. Including adult respondents, the survey says 36% of smartphone owners reported using those mobile messaging apps, while 17% said they used temporary messaging apps like Snapchat and Wickr.
Mobile messaging apps, for the first time, were separated into a different category from cellphone texting in the survey. Results reflect the larger growing trend of mobile use among consumers for Internet access and connecting with their friends. In fact, according to the survey, 85% of adults are Internet users and 67% use smartphones.
Writing in the official Pew Research Center report, Maeve Duggan writes:
“These apps are free, and when connected to Wi-Fi, they do not use up SMS or other data. Furthermore, they offer a more private kind of social interaction than traditional social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter.”
At the same time, small business owners can hardly abandon social media. Sites like Facebook continue to reach millions so small business owners can’t go wrong continuing to focus on them to reach clients and potential clients. While the social media platform’s popularity has leveled off since 2012, it is still a major platform for reaching general consumers, the Pew Research Center explains.
“Facebook remains the most popular social media site,” the report notes. It adds that 72% of online adults use Facebook. At the same time these Facebook users are highly engaged, with 70% saying they access the platform on a daily basis.
Also worth highlighting: The proportion of online adults who use Pinterest and Instagram has doubled since Pew started tracking social media platform adoption in 2012. Some 31% of online adults use Pinterest compared with 15% in 2012. While 28% use Instagram versus 13% in 2012.

 

36 Percent of Smartphone Owners Use Messaging Apps, Says Research

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