Smartphone users have never had it so good. The Google Play Store is now home to nearly 3 million different apps, and Apple has nearly 2 million also. The problem with having all these choices is that it can take some time to wade through all the chaff. Statista, the consumer data company, reports that there were around 218 billion downloads to mobile devices last year. Seeing as there are only 7.6 billion people in the whole world, this is quite incredible.
With all these downloads occurring, there must be quite a large amount of time being wasted. With this in mind, here are some of the better apps on the market for different applications. Instead of filling up your smartphone or tablet with a bunch of apps that never get used, streamline it with the ones you will.
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Why are so many apps being downloaded?
If everyone in the world had a mobile device, the number of apps downloaded a year would be around 27 each. However, not everyone in the world even has access to the internet let alone has a smartphone.
Out of the 60+ percent of people that have access to the internet, not everyone will be interested in apps. This means that some people are downloading possibly hundreds of apps every year. Potentially wasting not only time but data too.
This makes sense, especially when you look at the download figures for some apps on the Play Store. Apps with lukewarm reviews frequently boast millions of downloads. Because many apps are free it leads to a culture of download, tries it, deletes it.
Finding the best apps for your purposes
Before you fill up your mobile device with a dozen escape room games that you will never play, consider what you want from your smartphone or tablet.
There are some apps that everyone should consider putting on their phones, and there are others that might be better options than the ones you have now.
Below are some tips for finding and choosing the best apps for a specific purpose, and some app recommendations in some cases too.
Keeping your phone secure
If you have an old phone then you may be at risk from hackers. 1 billion Android phones were said to be at risk last year according to a BBC report. This is because older phones no longer receive updates that protect against breaches.
If you cannot afford to buy a newer model, then look at protecting your phone with some other methods. Two of the best mobile protection apps you can get are from Norton and Bitdefender.
Unfortunately, neither of these are free and there is a yearly payment of $14.99 for each. Compared to the free versions though, they provide better features and excellent malware detection. They are also ad-free.
Use a VPN
Another way to keep your data and internet use more secure is to use a VPN. There are things to consider before setting up a VPN and these include connection speeds, subscription fees, and what features are included.
Express VPN is consistently ranked highly in reviews and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it is basically risk-free.
A VPN will not only keep you safe, but it will also provide some other benefits for your mobile entertainment. See below for more information.
Streaming TV
What platform you use for streaming movies and TV is likely to come down to personal preferences. However, the biggest of them all is still Netflix.
While the free trials are no longer in place, there are some other reasons to install Netflix on a smartphone. Firstly, sometime in the future, Netflix will add games to its library. And secondly, combining the app with a VPN opens up a load more region-locked libraries.
Because VPN can be set to show that you are in another country, you can access foreign versions of Netflix. Incidentally, if you are an online casino fan and want to play your favorite games such as poker, you can use a VPN to do this too.
Casino games
In some regions and countries, online gambling is not allowed. You can use the VPN trick to get around this legally in most places but check local laws first.
One of the most popular downloads for mobile devices now is for casino games. They usually come in two options, free-to-play and pay-to-play. What games and apps you choose will be largely down to what you enjoy, however, there are some tips for choosing what to download.
If you are going for poker apps then look for ones that will let you play online with real people. This will improve your skills quicker than playing against AI. If you are looking to play games for real money then you will want to pick the best options.
When choosing a pay-to-play app look for a kaszinó that gives sign-up bonuses and free spins. This will give you a chance to play without risking your own cash, and increase your chances of making a profit.
Messaging services
It is almost certain that your phone has a number of messaging apps already. Whatsapp, Line, Messenger, and Telegram, are all popular choices. But, are they safe?
Many people left Whatsapp once Facebook acquired it due to data sharing concerns. One messaging service that isn’t connected to another business is Signal. This messaging service has no need to share data as it is an independent company.
It also claims that the data is end-to-end encrypted and is regarded as one of the safest messaging apps you can download.
Cloud storage
Plenty of talks has been made about the security of cloud storage. There have been some leaks of celebrity photos, and Dropbox suffered a breach a few years ago.
You should work out your priorities before choosing cloud storage. List the features you need and search the free and paid-for apps before choosing. However, Google Drive is pretty hard to beat, and for most people’s needs, it is perfect.
Summary
Here are just some options for downloading the essential apps, and a couple for entertainment. Security online is important, and in these days of sharing so much, encrypted messaging and cloud storage are important.
Streaming TV and online casinos are two of the most popular forms of mobile entertainment right now, and using a VPN can not only enhance your enjoyment but keep you safe too.
