Mobile Apps: Software on the Go
The software on a smartphone or tablet is often called an App.
Built for Touch
Unlike computer software that uses a mouse and keyboard, mobile apps are designed to be used with your fingers. They have big buttons and respond to swipes and pinches.
The App Store
Because you can’t easily put a disc into a phone, you download apps from a digital shop called an App Store or Google Play Store.
Sensors
Mobile apps can use special hardware in your phone:
- GPS: To show you where you are on a map.
- Camera: To take photos or scan codes.
- Accelerometer: To know if you are holding the phone sideways.
Questions
- How do you control a mobile app compared to a desktop program?
- Where do you go to find and download a new app for a phone?
- What part of the phone’s hardware does a map app use to find your location?