Apps will continue to extend their reach across devices and onto the desktop. With over seven billion downloads of apps from Apple’s app store, there’s no doubt that these handy little applications have caught on. In 2011 they will continue to grow in popularity as smart phones proliferate and apps move beyond the mobile. Apple has launched an app store for its Macs, making it even easier for users to spend money through their iTunes accounts and add games and utilities to their already crowded desktops.
Google Chrome’s web store also makes apps available for users of its browser, providing an even greater degree of personalisation. The ease with which we have taken to the convenience of apps is taking faltering steps towards our computer screens – expect these baby steps to become a full-on charge before too long as brands vie for position on our desktop Apps are breaking away from the mobile onto the desktop and, interestingly, beyond that even. The automotive industry is starting to link apps to the dashboard, incorporating app controls into the steering wheel – at this stage it’s generally music apps – offering the driver the same control over his music as he has outside the car. Nissan has launched its Carwings app for its new electric Leaf model, which allows users to check charge levels and driving range as well as turn on the climate control, all from an iPhone. This linking of apps to hardware that isn’t a phone or a laptop will develop in 2011 as our expectations of choice and control extend to every part of our lives.
