Category: Apps

Apps largely are targeted at people who are ‘on the move’.

This whole app movement began on mobile phones after all, so many of the creations to come from the Play and iTunes store are understandably aimed at taking advantage of that portability. That’s partly why the Cloud is so popular – it gives us access to all our files and everything else we might need right on the couch.

But as apps have begun to play a bigger and bigger role in our lives, it’s likely that we’re going to start seeing more applications that are designed to be used from home while sitting on the couch – and these might come in some different forms to the ones we’re used to.

Apps Designed for the Couch

As it is, there are already some apps that are well designed for being used on the couch. Netflix for instance whether you’re using it on your Xbox or on your smartphone is perfect for relaxing in the evening and helps to make watching your favourite films and programs more convenient and more immediate. Likewise the Kindle app does the same thing for reading books, while Flipboard gives you a great looking magazine to read with all your content in one place. If you’re into comics then you can read those on your phone or tablet now too, and then there are a range of games to try playing.

Still though, for most of us when our rear hits the couch our mobile device is not our go-to gadget. Most of us will simply flick on the television or open a magazine and then consider ourselves dead to the world. But this is likely to change in future…

Couch Apps of Tomorrow

Partly this is because the mobile infrastructure of apps is moving away from our smartphones. Take a look at the Xbox One for example which is designed to play games, but can also run a series of apps giving you access to SkyDrive and Netflix on the couch.

Meanwhile we’re also likely to see better integration between devices. Xbox One has ‘SmartGlass’ which is a clever app for your smartphone or tablet that lets you control the Xbox. As you can also control your TV through your Xbox, that means you can control all your media through your phone. As more and more of our things are likely to become connected in future, it’s possible that our smartphones might well serve as the convenient hubs for all of our entertainment.

At the same time, phones are also becoming more powerful and generally larger. This makes them much more suited to being used as primary media devices when we want to read something quickly or passively watch a film. All you need is a kickstand and you can enjoy Netflix on your Android or iPhone.

Further helping matters are developments that allow us to control our phones in a hands-off manner. You can now control your phone with gestures using Samsung’s features, or using your voice if you use Siri or Google Now. This allows for the sort of slobbing out that we all are used to when we get home while giving us access to all the power of our smartphones.

In the future then apps for controlling the home are going to play a big role – and it’s a smart developer who will get there first and pounce on this opportunity.

Author Bio

Nancy Baker, the author of this article, is a freelance blogger who is currently writing for, Ante Modern Furniture and Lighting, which specializes in the latest modular designs. She loves to bake and knit in her spare time. You can also follow her on Twitter @Nancy Baker.

New application seeks to engage consumers and merchants

Spindle, a leading provider of white label payment solutions for financial service firms, has announced the launch of a new mobile application for merchants and consumers. The application is called MeNetwork360 and aims to combine location-based marketing with mobile payments. The marketing tools associated with the application are expected to be well received by merchants that are working to engage with mobile consumers. Location-based marketing campaigns tend to be more effective at capturing the attention of consumers with mobile devices than traditional marketing methods.

App could form a dynamic connection between consumers and merchants

The application is meant to represent a dynamic platform through which consumers and merchants can interact more effectively. For consumers, the application is designed to provide yet more convenience to mobile commerce, making it relatively easier for consumers to purchase products with their mobile devices and store digital information from retailers. For merchants, the application provides yet another avenue through which loyalty-based connection can be formed.

Mobile payments continue to gain popularity

Mobile payments have become quite popular with consumers and there is no shortage of mobile commerce applications currently available. The mobile commerce field is filled with companies, both old and new, fighting one another for the attention of consumers. This competition means that consumers have a great deal of options when it comes to mobile commerce services, but it also means that it can be difficult for a new platform to gain any amount of recognition from consumers.

Application likely to face strong competition

MeNetwork360 may have an edge over the competition in that it is not focused solely on consumers. By engaging merchants, the application may be able to gain significant momentum in the mobile commerce field, making it easier to gain exposure. The application is not the first of its kind to focus on both merchants and consumers, however, so competition is still likely to be fierce.