Is there an App for that?

Is there an App for that?  Chances are you have asked that question recently.  

It is hard to believe that we haven't always had apps on our phone, but truly applications, or apps, are a fairly recent phenomenon.  It was in 2008 that this news was released:

iPhone App Store Downloads Top 10 Million in First Weekend

CUPERTINO, California—July 14, 2008—Apple® today announced that iPhone™ and iPod® touch users have already downloaded more than 10 million applications from its groundbreaking new App Store since its launch late last week. Developers have created a wide array of innovative mobile applications ranging from games to location-based social networking to medical applications to enterprise productivity tools. Users can wirelessly download applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch* and start using them immediately. More than 800 native applications are now available on the App Store, with more than 200 offered for free and more than 90 percent priced at less than $10.

Imagine-- 10 million downloads in the first three days.  And in almost six years phone apps are intrinsic to our personal and professional lives.

Angry Birds.  Who hasn't grabbed a quick, or long game of Angry Birds or Candy Crush while suffering through a delayed or cancelled flight or an interminable wait for a late appointment.

And by the way, that canceled flight or delayed flight.  You can use an App to contact your airline or Flight View to see exactly where your plane actually is and whether it is on its way or stuck on the ground.

Want to make a reservation?  Open Table can allow you to browse nearby restaurants, access menus and book a table or search your favorite restaurant for a table time.

Checking email?  Your Google app can help with that.  Need to check your meeting time.  Go on your Calendar app.

Use Messages to send direct messages to family and friends without having to waste important time calling each one on the phone.  Need to let your entire admin team knowan updated score or important school closing info.  Use GroupMe.

Want to browse hot new apps.  Go to the App store, of course.  Love music? How about the iTunes app?  Love videos.  They are there also.  Movies? Yep!

Is it going to rain this afternoon?  Do I need my boots?  Any number of weather apps exist.

If you have my sense of direction of lack thereof?  I can't live without Google Maps anymore.  It is amazing in its ability to talk to you any destination and you don't even need the address.  Just fill in the name of the school or hotel and choose any number of routes.  Sure beats the old paper maps (yes-- we really did actually use paper maps.  And yes-- you had to pull off the side of the road and keep reading them.)

Want to read newspapers. Yes-- just download your favorite.  Digital books-- yes. Youtube videos. Ted Talks. 

Have you downloaded the NCAA March Madness app to join the fever?  Better get to it this week.  You don't want to miss how your bracket is doing.  And did you use an app for that too?

Need a way to store documents?  Evernote and Overdrive will work. 

Visiting another country soon?  Try SayHi translator. Need a flashlight to get your key in the door- Yes-- that is a great app.

Can't stand to miss your favorite TV shows?  You don't have to with an app. How about keeping up on your stocks and bonds?  Yes-- you can celebrate and get heartbroken with that app too.

Communicate with the world through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and others.  You know there are apps for that and many of us use them to post these very blogs and read others.

Apps have made life so much easier that it is hard to imagine life without them.  What did we do before we had apps for almost every phase of our lives?

And the great news?  Most of them are free and the really expensive ones are about $10, less than a pizza and they last a lot longer.

So think about something you really want to do or find and ask yourself. "Is there an app for that?"  Chances are the answer is yes!