Need Coffee? There's an App for That!

I must admit that I'm a Starbucks fan, despite their over-priced products, I just can't resist their mouth-watering creations. I decided to register for their email newsletters a few months ago to stay in the loop about any delicious new beverages they're offering. In a recent newsletter they sent to my inbox, they were promoting a new iPhone app called "My Starbucks". For those of you lovely readers that aren't familiar with the world of apps, "the App Store is a service for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad created by Apple Inc. which allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with the iPhone SDK and published through Apple. Depending on the application, they are available either for free, or at a cost. The applications can be downloaded directly to target device, or downloaded onto a computer via iTunes." (wikipedia.com) The App Store opened on July 10 2008, and over the past year and a half it has truly taken the digital world by storm with over 60 000 apps to choose from and over 3 billion downloads to date! On average, there is said to be approximately 300 new apps being released per day. Those are extraordinary numbers for only a year and a half of service, illustrating just how popular these apps are becoming!

My Starbucks describes itself as "the official iPhone application from Starbucks! Want to find a store that’s open, with a drive through? Now you can do that and more with myStarbucks. Explore our whole bean coffees, find nutrition information, and build your own perfect drinks. Want to share? You can send your drink to friends by email, SMS, or directly to their iPhone or iPod®" (iTunes.com) That's right, now from the convenience of your iPhone, you can find the nearest (open) Starbucks to your current location, learn more about the coffee, create your perfect drink and be able to share it with your friends and even your barista who will make it for you! This app really helps to personalize your Starbucks experience (not to mention that the company makes it more convenient for the customer so they won't stray and go get their coffee fix from a competitor). However this app is not available for Canadians yet.

There are thousands of other apps available for download, including everything from checking the weather, to playing games, to recipes to cook dinner, to CNN updates or job postings, as they say.. there really is "an app for that!" According to an article listing the top 35 apps of 2009, a few of the most popular apps include: "Slacker Radio" a free music app, "Tweet Deck" to constantly stay updated on Twitter, "Print and Share" to wirelessly transmit and print documents, "Flight Tracker" to get up-to-the-minute arrival and departure times of flights, "Kindle" an e-book reader, as well as the "Skype" app to make long distance calls using audio and visual over WiFi networks.

The entire app world is definitely revolutionizing the way in which people interact with the world around them. Now people can read a book, use a level, go grocery shopping, read the newspaper, check gas prices, calculate tips and learn new pilates moves all from the convenience of the iPhone and the App Store. But how does this effect traditional means of doing these everyday tasks and other forms of media? Is the iPhone adapting to our world, or is our world adapting to the iPhone and its apps? How have apps changed the name of the game and what is its effect on us? These questions, at least for now, only apply to iPhone/iPod Touch users, but perhaps in time that will change. Apple is either trying to make or world easier/more accessible... or to monopolize it.