Apps aren't just for phones anymore

Long gone are the days when different apps were needed for word processing, photo editing, etc. These days, our phones can handle all of that easily. But even though your phone can do everything (maybe not as well as your computer, but you get my point), these devices still need some apps to make them better.

A new generation of apps is emerging on laptops, desktops and tablets.

Apps aren't just for phones anymore. For years, apps have been developed and designed with smartphone screens in mind. But now, a new generation of apps is emerging on laptops, desktops and tablets. It's a trend that could have big implications for marketers who want to reach consumers on the go.

"The concept of apps has changed," said Pankaj Kedia, vice president of marketing at AdColony, an advertising network for mobile games. "The idea that it's just mobile-first or mobile-only is over." In recent weeks, tech giants Google and Facebook have launched new tools allowing people to create web versions of their apps that can be accessed on desktop computers and mobile devices alike.

The move is part of an effort by those companies to entice more developers to develop native apps for their platforms — which means more potential users for advertisers who want to target them through those apps' ads. Google unveiled App Maker last month as part of its Firebase developer platform, which allows developers to build apps using Google tools such as Analytics and Firebase Analytics — both free services that help app makers track user behavior while they're using their programs.

Apple, google and microsoft are developing software that lets you run mobile apps on your laptop or desktop machine.

Apple, Google and Microsoft are developing software that lets you run mobile apps on your laptop or desktop machine. The idea is that you should be able to use the same app on your phone, tablet or desktop computer, so you don't have to buy multiple copies of the same thing.

The new technology is called "app streaming," and it has been around for a while, but it's just now starting to get popular. It's a way to run an app on any device — including PCs — without having to download and install it first. App streaming works by streaming an app's contents over the Internet.

The app itself isn't downloaded onto your device; instead, it runs as a remote program that connects to the cloud content server provided by its developer (or hosting company). Apple's App Streaming service is called TestFlight (formerly known as iAd TestFlight), and it was introduced in 2012 as part of Apple's iAd platform for mobile advertisers who want to test their ads before they go live.

The service lets developers stream their iOS apps over Wi-Fi to testers' iPhones or iPads before they're approved for sale in the App Store.

Google's doing more than any other company to bring android apps to other platforms.

Technology companies are already dabbling in mobile apps for your car.

The smartphone has become the digital hub of our lives, and these days, it's not enough to have just one app on your phone. You need a whole suite of tools to help you manage work, home and everything in between. Apps are no longer just for phones anymore — they're also for your car.

Last year, Apple announced that carmakers would be able to make their own apps for CarPlay, its system that lets you use your iPhone in the car. It's a huge shift for the auto industry, which has traditionally been slow to adapt to new technologies. The first group of automakers to release CarPlay apps include Ford (which already offers Sync Connect), Hyundai (which is currently working on a way to control its infotainment system with Siri) and Ferrari (which plans to add navigation assistance).

This means many people will soon be driving around with apps on their dashboards that aren't made by Google or Apple. And that could lead to some serious issues with privacy and security — especially when those apps are made by companies like Tesla or BMW.

To Sum Up

So, what makes a good app? The answer has a lot to do with the type of app you're showcasing, and who you're showing it to. But, whatever kind of app you develop, remember that apps aren't just for phones anymore. They can be used on all sorts of devices—like MP3 players, tablets, and Google watches.

And one day soon, who knows? Maybe even your car will have an app for that.