Choosing apps

 

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Choosing apps

A close up of some colourful apps on a smartphone screen

What's coming up?

With millions of apps available from online app stores, you might think it will be hard to find the one that’s best for you. But it’s not! In this activity, you’ll learn how to search for and choose the right app for your needs.

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A zoomed-in view of the ABC iView app and star rating

How do you choose the best app?

With millions of apps available, there should be something just right for you. But how do you choose?

Some ways to help you include:

  • Using the app stores' search functions to refine your choices.
  • Reading the app information page to learn more.
  • Checking star ratings and user reviews on the app stores and the web.
  • Trying free apps and recommendations from friends.

Search app stores by category

Let's have a look at the online app stores and how they help you find apps by organising them into categories. This allows you to search for specific or popular apps, such as games, banking, family apps and more.

We have two videos to watch - the first is an example of how to search for a calculator app on an Android phone, and the second is an example of how to search for a word processor app on an Apple iPhone.

On the next slide, watch the video by clicking the play button. You can also click anywhere on the video to pause or restart it.

How to search for apps by type on Google Play

This demonstration video is approximately 2 minutes and 3 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to search for different apps using Google Play on an Android device. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.

Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of a typical Android smartphone, such as a Samsung. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.

Voiceover: "The app stores let you search for different types of apps. You can search for game apps, government apps and more. Here's how to search for a calculator app on an Android smartphone."

The left-hand panel zooms in to the smartphone screen and a green circle highlights the Play Store icon.

Voiceover: "First, tap the Play Store app icon to open Google Play."

The left-hand panel shows the Play Store app icon being tapped and Google Play opening and we zoom up to the top of the page to highlight the location of the Search bar.

Voiceover: "Tap the Search bar."

The left-hand panel shows the Search bar being tapped and a previous search term 'spider solitaire' appears underneath it.

Voiceover: "Previous searches will appear in a list underneath."

The left-hand panel zooms out a little to show the keyboard has automatically appeared on the screen.

Voiceover: "Also, a keyboard will pop up so you can type in your request. Start typing calculator."

The left-hand panel returns to the top of the screen to show the letters 'calc' start to be typed into the Search bar.

Voiceover: "As you start typing, you will see suggestions appear."

The left-hand panel shows the suggestions list get bigger and more specific as the letters 'calcu' are typed into the Search bar.

Voiceover: "When you see the word appear in the list below, tap on it and it will automatically complete the rest of the typing for you."

The left-hand panel shows the word 'calculator' appear in the list and it is highlighted by a green circle. We then see this word being tapped, and the whole word 'calculator' is automatically updated in the Search bar above.

Voiceover: "A list of calculator apps appears."

The left-hand panel shows a list of apps for calculators, some of which are Advertisements - denoted by the little box with 'Ad' inside.

Voiceover: "Scroll down to see the full list of results."

The left-hand panel shows the list of apps being scrolled to below the Advertised apps until we see the first non-advertised apps available.

Voiceover: "Any calculators already on your phone will be shown as 'Installed'."

The left-hand panel zooms in to see the word 'Installed' alongside one of the calculator apps, indicating that app is already available on this smartphone.

Voiceover: "You can see the star ratings for each calculator app in the list. The star rating is out of five."

The left-hand panel zooms down to highlight the star rating for two calculator apps, being 4.8 and 4.6 out of five respectively.

Voiceover: "Tap on an app that looks interesting and has a good star rating."

The left-hand panel highlights a 'Hiper Scientific Calculator' app and we see it being tapped to find out more information.

Voiceover: "It will open a product page with more information about the app."

The left-hand panel shows the calculator app product information page displayed.

Voiceover: "Scroll down to see more about the app, including screenshots and a description."

The left-hand panel shows information page scroll down to reveal more information about the app.

Voiceover: "Tap 'Read more' to see even more about it."

The left-hand panel zooms in to the 'READ MORE' link and highlights it with a green circle. We then see the link is tapped and a more detailed information page displays.

Video ends.

How to search for apps by type on the App Store

This demonstration video is approximately 2 minutes and 38 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to search for different apps using the App Store on an Apple device. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.

Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of a typical Apple iPhone. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.

Voiceover: "The App Store lets you search for different types of apps. You can search for banking apps, game apps and more. Here's how to search for a word processor app."

The left-hand panel zooms in to the smartphone screen and a green circle highlights the official Apple App Store icon.

Voiceover: "First, open the App Store on your iPhone."

The left-hand panel shows the App Store app opening and we zoom in to the bottom right corner of the page to highlight the location of the Search icon.

Voiceover: "Tap on the Search icon at the bottom right. It looks like a magnifying glass."

The left-hand panel shows the Search icon being tapped and the Search page appears.

Voiceover: "Tap the Search bar."

The left-hand panel shows the Search bar being tapped. The page then zooms out to show the on-screen keyboard appearing in the bottom half of the screen.

Voiceover: "A keyboard will pop up. Tap the microphone on the keyboard."

The left-hand panel zooms to the bottom row of the keyboard and highlights the location of the microphone key with a green circle.

Voiceover: "Then clearly say word processor."

The left-hand panel updates to show a sound wave indicating it's heard your request. A list of suggestions starts forming towards the top of the screen. We scroll back up to the top to view the suggestions.

Voiceover: "The phrase word processor should appear. Tap on it."

The left-hand panel shows the phrase word processor appear in the list and it is highlighted by a green circle. We then see this phrase being tapped, and a new page opens showing a list of word processor apps.

Voiceover: "A list of word processor apps appears. Often the first item will be an advertisement."

The left-hand panel highlights the pale grey box with the letters Ad inside, indicating this is an advertisement.

Voiceover: "Scroll down to see more options."

The left-hand panel shows the list of apps being scrolled to below the Advertised apps until we see the first non-advertised apps available.

Voiceover: "Some of the apps will be free, but some will require you to pay for them'."

The left-hand panel zooms in and highlights the word GET on one free app, and $9.99 on the paid app underneath it.

Voiceover: "You can see the star ratings for each app in the list. The star rating is out of five."

The left-hand panel zooms down to highlight the star rating for the Microsoft Word app, being 4.5 stars coloured in out of 5.

Voiceover: "Tap on an app that looks interesting and has a good star rating."

The left-hand panel highlights the Word logo on the Microsoft Word app and we see it being tapped to find out more information.

Voiceover: "It will open a product page with more information about the app."

The left-hand panel shows the Microsoft Word app product information page displayed.

Voiceover: "Scroll down to read about the app."

The left-hand panel shows the information page scroll down to reveal more information about the app.

Voiceover: "Tap more to learn even more about it."

The left-hand panel zooms in to the more link and highlights it with a green circle. We then see the link is tapped and a more detailed information page displays.

Voiceover: "If that app doesn't appeal to you, you can tap the blue Search text to go back and see other word processor apps."

The left-hand panel zooms in to the top of the information page and highlights the 'Search' link which is in blue text. We see the link being tapped and we return to the main word processor apps list page.

Voiceover: "Or tap the magnifying glass at the bottom to start a new search."

The left-hand panel zooms back down to the bottom right corner and highlights the magnifying glass icon.

Video ends.

Check the reviews and star ratings

Each app has star ratings in the App Store or Google Play. The star rating is always out of 5. Most apps will also have reviews from users, which can help you decide if the app is useful and works reliably.

Most apps will also show how many times they have been downloaded. A lot of downloads can indicate it’s a good app.

A zoomed-in view of a review for an app on the official app store

Search the web for recommendations

There are many user reviews and Best apps for lists on the internet that can help you choose from among the many apps available.

On the next slide, click the play button on the video to watch it. You can also click anywhere on the video to pause or restart it.

Searching the web to find app recommendations

This demonstration video is approximately 2 minutes and 9 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to search the web to find app recommendations. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.

Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of a typical Android smartphone, such as a Samsung. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.

Voiceover: "With so many apps, it can be hard to know which one to choose. The internet can help, with advice and recommendations from ordinary people as well as experts. Let's use the web to search for the best magnifying app for a smartphone. This type of app helps make small print and other objects appear larger, which is helpful if you don't have your reading glasses."

The left-hand panel zooms into the phone's screen and highlights the Chrome browser icon.

Voiceover: "Open up the web browser on your phone."

The left-hand panel shows the Chrome app icon being tapped, and the web browser opens on the screen.

Voiceover: "Tap the Search bar."

The left-hand panel shows the location of the Search bar on the Chrome browser page and we see it being tapped to activate the onscreen keyboard, ready to type.

Voiceover: "When the keyboard appears, start typing 'best magnifying app'. As you type, suggestions will appear."

The left-hand panel shows the phrase 'best magnifying app' begin to be typed into the Search bar. A list of suggestions appears below the bar, and this becomes more specific as more letters are typed into the phrase.

Voiceover: "When 'best magnifying app' appears on the list, tap it."

The left-hand panel shows the phrase 'best magnifying app' has appeared on the suggested list and we watch as it is tapped. A new page opens with some advertising at the top.

Voiceover: "Some advertising is likely to appear at the top of the page. Scroll down."

The left-hand panel shows the page being scrolled down to find the recommendations below the advertisement.

Voiceover: "Underneath, you will see links to articles and reviews that are relevant to magnifying glass apps. Tap on them to read opinions that may help you decide which app to choose."

The left-hand panel shows a review from the list being tapped to open up the review page so we can read what it has to say.

Voiceover: "We recommend checking a few of these sites and reviews to make the most informed choice."

The left-hand panel updates to go back to the list of reviews on the previous page.

Voiceover: "Sometimes you may find information from real experts, such as a technology news site for the visually impaired."

The left-hand panel shows a review from a site that tests apps and makes a comparative review of the results.

Voiceover: "Once you have gathered enough information, make a note of the app which sounds best. There's no need to rush."

Video ends.

Well done!

You have completed the Choosing apps activity. You've learned that there are useful ways of telling the best apps from the stores themselves, as well as recommendations from friends and the web.

Next up, we'll learn how Apple device users get an app in the Getting apps for iPhone and iPad activity.

Relaxing in the park and using an app on a smartphone