In the last decade of unprecedented technological advancement in India, a small device with numerous abilities called smartphone has completely taken over our busy lives. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning till the time we sleep, we are all increasingly getting addicted to our smartphones. And why not? After all, whether as a guide to an unknown realm of things or as a friend in times of need, it never lets us down. There are in fact, infinite possibilities as far as a smartphone is concerned. There is no end to what we can do with it. From learning about new subjects to managing our business, it has literally brought everything down to our fingertips.
But for a beginner with limited technical knowledge, the first question would be- how does a smartphone actually work? Simple! Since it behaves like a mini computer for us, it also needs an operating system just like the computer. Android is the most popular operating system for smartphones all over the world. According to a report on the website, MY BROADBAND, Android has a share of total 65.53% in the market.
An Android application is nothing but software in the Android phones which is either inbuilt or can be downloaded. While Google is an inbuilt application, other applications like Facebook, Uber, Swiggy, Instagram can be downloaded.
Now, let us look at some of the most used Android applications of 2018:
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The Google App which includes Google, Chrome, Gmail, YouTube etc is the most used app on Android phones. It is inbuilt in Android mobiles and all of these apps which come under Google are individually very popular. Google is the most extensively used Search Engine and Wikipedia says that it holds 92.3% hold in the market. Also, when it comes to watching or uploading videos, people mostly think of YouTube. Even Facebook doesn’t come close to its dominance as an Android app. Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that it has turned Blogging/Vlogging into a full-time profession for YouTubers. India’s most popular YouTuber, Bhuvan Bam (BB Ki Vines) reached 11 million subscribers in 2018.
Facebook is undoubtedly one of the most popular Android applications. According to a 2018 article on the website, Business of Apps, 85% of people who use smartphones use the Facebook App. Also, the website states that the number of people who use Facebook daily is 1.5 billion. To say the truth, it doesn’t come as a surprise since everyone is on Facebook all the time. To be able to post their pictures, check who is doing what and follow the celebrities has become an obsession with the current generation. They are constantly checking others’ posts as well as posting updates about themselves. To not be on Facebook, like the millennials would say, is major FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
According to Statista, as of October 2018, 1.5 billion people were using the Whatsapp app every month. This makes it the most popular messenger app on Android phones. It is not an inbuilt app and can be downloaded from the Play Store App. It is generally used by people for sending quick messages or for having long chats with their friends and family. One can also make a group and add a few members there and can regularly chat and discuss various topics with them. For instance, if you make a family group, and add all your family members there, you can easily stay in touch with all of them through that group. You can send pictures, music files, do video chats and much more on it. For business purposes also, Whatsapp has proven to be a great boon. The business owner and the employees can always stay connected through Whatsapp so that no one misses an important message or notification.
Instagram is easily one of the most used Android applications with the younger generation. According to Statista, by June 2018, Instagram was used by around 1 billion people which is quite a progress from 800 million in September last year. Instagram is used by teens more than Facebook or Twitter. It is mostly a photo sharing app where you can share all your pictures. Over the years, Instagram has become a platform for all kinds of businesses. For instance, if you are into selling house decor items, you can easily promote those on Instagram by sharing pictures and other information. Whether you are a foodie or someone who has an interest in beauty and make-up, if you have the talent for it, you can become an influencer on Instagram. In today’s day and age, becoming an Instagram influencer can be quite a lucrative profession.
Twitter was one of the first popular social media sites in the world. According to Statista, by the second quarter of 2018, Twitter was used by around 335 million people on a daily basis, which makes it one of the top apps for Android. It allows you to make a post within 140 characters. In India, Twitter is the most widely used social media site among celebrities. For a long time, Amitabh Bachchan was the most followed Indian celebrity on Twitter. But now, he has been surpassed by PM Narendra Modi and Shahrukh Khan.
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga is one of the most played games on Android phones. It is not inbuilt but can be downloaded from the App Store. According to Android Headlines, Candy Crush Saga had around 2.1 million players on Android phones by September 2018. It was first introduced six and a half year back, and since then its popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. The game is basically about matching candies with the same colours for which the player gets points. For its popularity, the game was featured in PSY’s music video as well as several TV shows.
Netflix
Netflix is a streaming device, which just like a television channel has a number of TV shows, movies, documentaries etc. It was launched in India in 2016 and since then has become a major source of entertainment for the masses. According to Statista, by the third quarter of 2018, Netflix had around 137 million subscribers around the world. Some of the most popular shows of Netflix are Stranger Things, Narcos, House of Cards and The Crown. In 2018, the first Indian series on Netflix called Sacred Games was released. It was highly appreciated for its content, direction and performances.
Snapchat
Snapchat is an app where one can share pictures, videos, messages with others, but these stays there only for a short period of time, not permanently, unlike other social media apps. According to Statista, by the third quarter of 2018, Snapchat had around 186 million users on a daily basis. A report in Daily Mail UK from August 2018 states that Snapchat is most likely to overtake Facebook in terms of its reach among the teens and those in their early 20s. Snapchat has various attractive features like adding quirky filters to pictures, sharing stories through pictures and videos, which are now being emulated by other apps as well.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a storage service app where one can store all of their important files by dragging those into a folder. While it gives you 2 GB of storage space for free, if you want more, there are payment plans available. According to Cloudwards, Dropbox along with Google Drive are two of the most popular cloud storage devices, with Dropbox still leading the way. Dropbox is used for personal as well as business purposes. All you need is an internet connection and you can log in and view your files from anywhere in the world.
Flipboard is an app which provides you with all the latest news, based on your interest. It is like a customized magazine which will only show you things that you prefer. According to an article on CMS WIRE, Flipboard has more than 145 million monthly users and can be easily downloaded from any app store. With Flipboard, it has become easier for people to stay in touch with all the trending topics. It allows you to flip through different stories and on the basis of which story you like, it will show you the future stories.
Tag – Android Applications
