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Tips Three Key Things to Keep in Mind About Apps

Apps are everywhere these days. But before we share some of the ins and outs of them, let’s start with a basic definition. “App” is an abbreviation for “application” and is usually a specialized program that’s loaded onto a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) or computer (laptop or desktop). Unlike large, multifunctional software applications like Microsoft Word or Outlook, an app typically allows you to perform only specific tasks. For example, an app may give you quick access to your local weather forecast, make it easy to do online banking, or turn your smartphone into a flashlight.

There are millions of apps available and new ones are created daily. If you’re a beginner in the world of apps, the whole process can be a bit daunting. Here are key things to understand:

  1. There are numerous places to download apps. You can check with your smartphone or device maker’s website, and visit top online stores including Google Apps Marketplace, Amazon App store for Android, and Apple’s App Store. Be sure to always choose a trusted source.
  2. Make careful choices, even with free apps. When apps don’t cost anything, you may be tempted to just download them without much thought. Keep in mind, though, that every app is rich in software code, which means they’ll take up space on your device. Look for apps that give you precisely what you want, have good reviews, and show a record of lots of downloads.
  3. Don’t forget to close your apps when they are not in use.  When using an app, it opens on your device. When you are finished using it and ready to move on to using another app, make sure to close it by double-clicking on the home button and swiping up on each open app until all that is left is the home screen.  This will reduce the amount of cellular data or Wi-Fi that you use and will also allow your wireless device to run at its peak performance.

Once you experience how timesaving, convenient, and fun all these apps can be, you may find yourself building quite a collection. Enjoy the process and change your apps as your interests change.