Category: Mobile Apps

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Mobile Apps

5 Fitness Apps to Help Keep You on Track This Summer

By: Vince Kattoula

With Memorial Day weekend now behind us, summer is here.  It’s likely that your fitness plans from this past January have been replaced with plans to hang out on the couch. Working out can be a struggle and sticking to an exercise plan after a busy day can be even more an uphill battle.  Luckily, there are apps that will help you stick to your plan and see it through.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, train for your first marathon, or just want to walk more steps in a day, mobile apps are awesome assistants for health and fitness because you can take them everywhere you go.  But, before you lose your mind browsing through the thousands of health and fitness apps in the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store, check out our list of fitness apps (in no particular order) that will help you keep track of your goals this summer.

5 Fitness Apps to Help You Stay on Track:

  1. MyFitness Pal
    This app contains the largest food database of any calorie counter with over 6,000,000 foods to select from.  Other than calories, MyFitness Pal tracks fat, protein, carbohydrates, sugar, fiber, cholesterol, and much more.  It allows users to connect over 50 devices and apps, such as Fitbit and MapMyFitness.  Once connected, the user can track their diet and exercise in less than 5 minutes per day.  In total, MyFitness Pal members have lost nearly 200 million pounds.

    MyFitness Pal is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  2. FIT Radio
    FIT Radio Workout Music provides you with non-stop, high energy playlists of all genres designed to motivate your workout.  The music never stops, not even for ads and the company uploads new mixes daily so you never have to listen to the same playlist twice.  The app contains over 45 genres and stations, including your own customizable station.  FIT Radio was nominated as one of the Top 7 Music Apps in the world by readers of Mashable.

    FIT Radio is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  3. Water Drink Reminder
    Let’s face it, most of us don’t drink as much water as we should be drinking throughout the day.  This #1 health app in over 30 countries prompts users to enter their current weight then helps determine how much water they need every day.  More importantly, it reminds the person to drink water every day and to develop good water drinking habits as well.

    Water Drink Reminder is available for free on Android.  A similar app called Daily Water Free is available for free on iOS.
     

  4. Couch to 5K
    This often imitated program helps thousands of new runners go from couch potato to crossing the finish line in just a matter of weeks.  It allows users to log and share their workouts, sync with playlists, and track distance/pace with GPS.  Human audio cues motivate and guide you through each workout.  The goal is to train for just 20 to 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 9 weeks, and you’ll be ready to finish your first 5K race! 

    Couch to 5K is available for $1.99 on iOS and Android.
     

  5. Sworkit
    Sworkit offers exercisers personalized workouts that fit their schedule and their goals.  Users have the ability to choose from strength, cardio, yoga, and stretching exercises in order to create custom workouts using the exercise library provided.  With no gym required, or no equipment needed, work outs can be accomplished using the app anytime, anywhere.  Many fitness apps limit workouts until upgrading, but not Sworkit.  You get to enjoy all the free workouts Sworkit has to offer and then choose to upgrade to Sworkit Premium at your leisure.

    Side note: Sworkit was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” on February 19, 2016, where Mark Cuban decided to invest $1.5 million into the company.

    Sworkit is available for free on iOS and Android.

Give us a call at 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com, to let us know if there is a health and fitness app you think we should add to this list, or if you want input on your mobile strategy.

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Mobile Apps

8 Steps to Make Sure Your App Succeeds

By: Bob Kernen

We saw an article from “Business Insider” with the disturbing headline, The App Explosion Is Over.  Since we have a lot invested in the space, it got our attention. Beyond the provocative headline, the point of the article is that growth in the mobile application space has leveled off – the average number of apps used by a typical smartphone owner has been around 27 for the past four years.

Concurrently, the article points out that the time spent using those apps continues to steadily increase, from a monthly average of 18:18 in 2011 to 40:51 today.

The app “explosion” may be over, but that’s okay. Explosions are messy and chaotic and cause a lot of damage.  What it really means is that consumers are more discriminating than ever, and to be one of those 27 apps, you will have to meet their high expectations for utility and performance. Your app must do the job it was “hired” to do well, day in and day out.

As the creators of around 1,000 apps over the past 7+ years, we’ve learned a lot about what makes a great one.

Here is what you need to do to succeed in this less frenetic, but more lucrative space:

  1. Have a strategy.  Sounds basic, but your app needs a strategy just like your station does. A mission for your app takes the guesswork out of mobile.
  2. Excel at one thing and deliver an outstanding user experience.  If the quality of your stream is suspect, or ad insertion is buggy, you are giving listeners a reason to go elsewhere.  Streaming is the number one reason radio apps are used, so make sure it’s loud, clear, and performs without interruptions.
  3. Provide reasons for every day use.  People use Facebook to check in to see what’s happening.  Your apps should provide similar value.  Publish and promote new content and events each day. Be more than a streaming utility. Be a part of your audience’s daily routine.
  4. Provide engagement.  Don’t think of the smartphone as just a receiver. It’s the digital hub of a listener’s life and can distribute content as well as receive.  Ensure that your app easily shares content like podcasts and videos on social media.  Make the app a way for listeners to communicate with your station personalities. Features like Open Mic and video sharing can feed audio and videos directly to you.
  5. Promote it.  Most stations promote their app for the first few weeks after it goes live and then move onto other things. This is a mistake. The app needs to be continuously promoted, and the message needs to be more than just “download our app to hear our station.”  Promote the tangible benefits of your app – “take us on vacation,” “listen at work,” or “use the alarm to wake up with our morning show.” 
  6. Streamline it.  Apps that deliver and don’t clutter themselves with unimportant functionality or “cool” design perform the best. 
  7. Metrics don’t lie.  Your stream, on-demand content, and social media will probably dominate.  Everything else resides in the “long tail.”
  8. Find your secret sauce.  What is unique about your station that can be transformed into a great app experience?  KISW in Seattle has created the “Magic 9-Ball” where users can shake the app to get answers to quirky questions like “Why I didn’t text you back.” 

Whether or not the app explosion is over, smartphones are the dominant way your audience accesses information.  Their phones are always with them, and your station should be too.

We can help you design a great app, adapt one you’re currently using, or help you with mobile app strategy, so don’t hesitate to connect with us.  The bar is rising, and it’s important that brands step up in the mobile app space.

If you want input on your mobile strategy, or want to learn more about monetizing your mobile assets give us a call at 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com.

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Mobile Apps

10 Mobile Apps for Your Summer Travels

By: Vince Kattoula

We have said before that people bring their phones with them everywhere they go.  As summer quickly approaches, don’t forget to make the most out of mobile when making your vacation plans.  There are many apps you can take with you which can save you much headache as you plan your trip, prepare for takeoff, and travel to new places.

Whether you’re a beach bum looking to relax on the shoreline or a tourist looking to explore the artsy parts of Europe, check out this list of apps, recommended by InformationWeek, to help make your summer travels more enjoyable:

  1. Google Translate
    Google Translate is great for travelers who don’t know the language of the country they’re visiting.  The app can translate between 103 different languages, 52 of which can be accessed offline.  The camera mode lets travelers take pictures of text for higher-quality translations in 37 languages, and the conversation mode allows for two-way instant speech translation in 32 languages.

    Google Translate is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  2. Pro HDR X
    Pro HDR X allows users to capture true HDR images automatically and instantly.  With rear and front camera support, self-timer, flash options, digital zoom, cropping, and grid overlay, the app makes it easy for pretty much anyone to capture the sharpest image possible.

    Pro HDR X is available for purchase on iOS.
     

  3. GateGuru
    GateGuru provides travelers with real-time flight statuses, along with push notifications.  In addition, the app offers a variety of airport content specifically customized to the person’s itinerary like airport weather, estimated TSA security wait times, and airport maps and tips.

    GateGuru is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  4. Food Tripping
    Food Tripping was built by us in collaboration with SHFT.com and Ford Motor Company.  This app is designed to help people in search of healthy eating options find the best places near them.  Combining databases for farmer’s markets, vegetarian restaurants, markets and other establishments, this app makes it easy for the user to find healthy food options nearby wherever they may find themselves.

    Food Tripping is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  5. LiveTrekker
    LiveTrekker provides users with the ability to keep a journal of their travels with outrageously detailed maps.  The live sharing option allows people to view each other’s journeys, making it even easier to discover new places throughout the world.  New trips are submitted every day so there is always a different location for people to check out.

    Live Trekker is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  6. KAYAK
    KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to locate the cheapest flights, hotels, and rental cars.  Users of this app can save money with mobile only rates and private deals.  The “Trips” feature allows vacationers to organize travel plans and stay informed with free real-time flight status alerts.

    KAYAK is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  7. Vurb
    Vurb helps people find things to do and save them for later. As users search, it brings together information from apps like ratings, reviews, and recommendations from other people into one app.  Vurb is great for finding places, food, or movies to make plans right now or save the ideas for later.

    Vurb is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  8. Converter Plus
    Converter Plus is a unit converter with the most extensive list of currencies and units in hundreds of categories. It also comes with many calculators like mortgage, loan, tip, fuel consumption, and many others for everyday problems.  Exchange rates for all 167 of the world's currencies are refreshed automatically every 6 hours or on request.

    Converter Plus is available for free on iOS.
     

  9. TripSee
    TripSee allows users to select a destination that they would like to visit and the app will present a list of popular destinations and points of interest.  In addition to location reviews, descriptions, and pictures, the app provides users with multi-trip cloud storage to create and maintain hundreds of trips.  TripSee also lets vacationers create customized itineraries based off their interests which include times, dates, cost, and user notes.

    TripSee is available for free on iOS and Android.
     

  10. Hotel Tonight
    Hotel Tonight provides last-minute deals on great hotels.  Users can book a hotel room in just 10 seconds after reading through the hundreds of hotel reviews provided by the app.  It also provides 24/7 customer support with real humans, making this app a great tool for your summer vacation travels.

    Hotel Tonight is available for free on iOS and Android.

If there are any apps that you use while traveling that didn’t make this list, let us know!  We would love to continue adding to our collection.  If you’d like to talk about your mobile strategy, give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

P.S. don’t forget to pack your charger!

Categories
Mobile Apps Podcasting Radio

Radio Has the Necessary Elements for Success in Podcasting

By: Bob Kernen

You’ve probably noticed the buzz around podcasting lately. You know it’s gone mainstream when the NY Times puts it on the front page of its Sunday business section as it did on May 8. One of the best things about the apps we build here at jācapps is the podcasting feature. It is second only to the stream in popularity.

And the podcasting numbers back that up. Last year 46 million Americans listened to a podcast, and this year that number is expected to hit 57 million, according to Edison Research. What was once a niche has gone mainstream, as evidenced by the 110 million downloads of NPR’s “Serial” podcast last year. But those numbers present some challenges. As the Times article describes, the only currently reliable metric for podcasts is downloads, but that is a pretty rough metric, especially for advertisers who have no idea if their ads in the podcast are even being heard.

But with the numbers and the trend lines headed straight up, it is inevitable that these problems will ultimately be solved. That’s where some of the most innovative players in the space are focused. Companies like Art19 are working out issues of measurement and monetization in some incredibly clever ways. Others, like Clammr, are tackling the issue of content discovery in a universe of as many as 350,000 different podcasts. Of course, long-time podcast players like Libsyn, Blubrry, Midroll (acquired by Scripps last year) and Spreaker, as well as big dogs like Apple and Google are in the space as well. Apple basically invented the concept, and loaned it the name since “podcast” originally referred to the iPod. Google via their Android operating system has had a less consistent relationship, dropping its own podcasting app in 2012 only to reintroduce a podcast directory this year.

What does it all mean? If you want to learn more about the podcasting space and meet lots of people doing it you should think about attending Podcast Movement in Chicago this July.

Radio has many of the elements necessary for success in podcasting:

  • Talent and expertise in audio production
  • Skills and experience in audio storytelling
  • Built in distribution channels (website and mobile app)
  • On-air promotional channel

What all of these tools mean is that your station can create more professional, better produced content than much of the “two guys with a mic” content that is so prevalent in the podcasting world. Be prepared that it may take time to find the program that connects, but the best way to find it is to get as many at-bats as possible. The marginal cost of creating a show is so low, that it pays to try lots of different topics, talent and approaches. You’ll also find that a little production value goes a long way.

And once you’ve produced it, you can use your on-air broadcast to help that new, on-demand content find its audience. So unlike other podcasters who battle each other to connect with Apple’s one (yes, one) employee in charge of deciding who gets promotion on the iTunes Store, you can reach out to your entire audience. And with advertising CPMs of $20 – $100, it’s possible to turn a successful podcast into real revenue.

To learn more about Podcast Movement or your mobile strategy contact us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

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Mobile Apps

New Mobile App Intends to be the “Pandora” of Stand-Up Comedy

There’s a new mobile app, called Laugh.ly, which allows listeners to stream stand-up comedy routines to their mobile phones similar to how Pandora lets people to stream music.  The founder, Dave Scott, actually became a stand-up comedian himself which is what inspired him to create the app.  Laugh.ly will include streams from more than 400 well-known comedians, including Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, and Amy Schumer, as well as 20,000 individual tracks.

The business model for Laugh.ly is similar to Pandora’s since the comedians will take part in a revenue share with the company.  The service itself is supported by advertisements to remain free. Also like Pandora, listeners can pay to upgrade to an ad-free experience.

What’s especially interesting about Laugh.ly is that the company’s platform transcribes every joke it processes.  This enables listeners to create smart playlists, based on their interests or current trends, using the app.  For example, users would be able to create a station that only contains Trump jokes.

According to the company's website, the app will launch sometime this summer.

To read more about how Laugh.ly aims to be the Pandora of stand-up comedy on TechCrunch, click here.

If you want input on your mobile strategy, or want to learn more about monetizing your mobile assets give us a call at 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com.

Categories
Mobile Apps Radio

Mobile Can Help Connect Your Message to Local Listeners

By: Bob Kernen

At jācapps I’ve been talking about the importance of location technology for over two years. Ever since I saw a demonstration of iBeacon technology at a Mobile Mondays program in 2013, I’ve been convinced that it is the next big thing. It makes perfect sense. The devices (and the people carrying them) are mobile, so place is one of the key drivers of context for how we interact with our world. Suddenly, there is a whole layer of information available to us about where we are in space. Connecting that with our intentions at any given moment makes the world a friendlier place.

And it turns out that users are open to exposing their location if given a good reason. According to the Pew Research Center, nine in ten of us use location services. Now much of this is driven by mapping and weather, but the research shows that if you give people a good reason, or something valuable, for the privilege.

The key is for the user benefit to be clear. We’ve all seen the pop-ups on our phones when an app asks to access our location. Your first thought is always “why?” Followed by what am I getting for this? And, is it something I want? While weather and mapping apps get a 90% acceptance rate, messaging apps only get 30% acceptance. But if your station is able to deliver value – a coupon, a location sensitive message, or a special offer, it’s more likely that that user will tap “okay” when asked about accessing their location. Once they do, you can learn a lot about their behavior and their presence.

Broadcasting’s big edge today is the fact that it is local. Mobile can help connect your local message to your listener on the device that they have with them all the time. So look for ways to provide your listeners and your clients with a way to connect at the time and place they want.

To learn more about how location technology can support your mobile strategy contact us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

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Mobile Apps

Mobile Drives Surge in Digital Advertising

By: Bob Kernen

Double digit growth is impressive almost any time, but when something experiences double digit growth for 20 straight years that is really impressive. That is what digital advertising has done since Bill Clinton was president, and nobody knew anything about a girl named Monica.

But even with that impressive number from the IAB, here’s an even more impressive one: growth of mobile advertising grew 66 percent – in just one year, from 2014 to 2015. Mobile advertising rang up $20.7B in 2015.

This is tremendous news for anyone with a mobile strategy. What it means is that your mobile presence no longer has to be looked at as a cost center, but can be a real revenue driver. When you look at what’s possible on mobile, not just tiny awful banners, but real marketing with rich media elements, strong interactivity and valuable data gathering, the possibilities are endless. And in a time when broadcast media struggles to “attribute” their advertising to actual sales and ROI, mobile becomes the perfect vehicle to show your advertisers how their marketing is working through your channel.

More good news was found in pricing data. While digital has challenged CPM rates for several years now, in 2015 pricing actually improved, despite growth of low-cost programmatic ad buying. Also, driving rates up was the growth of digital video advertising. This includes desktop as well as mobile, but the rates being paid for rich media (audio and video) are impressive, and broadcasters and media companies are really well positioned to take advantage of this.

If you have questions or want to discuss ways to improve your mobile monetization, check out our webinar and white paper, or contact us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com and we can help you take advantage.

Categories
Mobile Apps Radio

Listening is Shifting Toward Mobile

Another Monday, another set of data confirming what most of us know intuitively – people really like their smartphones and use them for everything! According to the new “Share of Ear” research from Edison Research, and as reported by Steve Goldstein, 19% of audio consumption is on the smartphone. That means that one minute out of every 5 consumers spend listening to audio content is on a smartphone. And if you look at just the younger demographics, the numbers are closer to one out of three minutes. That’s a lot of people with ear buds in, or Bluetooth-ed to some other device perhaps in their home or their car.

For anyone in the mobile space, this comes as no surprise at all. We’ve witnessed how the smartphone has, blob-like, taken over one area of information or media consumption after another. Search, travel, social media, video – one by one all have shifted to majority usage on mobile phones. This device is the closest thing to a sci-fi-like “neural implant” we’ve ever seen. We are a species that has become more and more connected to these devices and they’ve become more and more deeply hardwired into our very existence.

Another interesting stat is that consumers who listen on smartphones “every day” is 34%. And once again, (the children shall lead them) among 13-34 year-old users that number is 68%.

So if listening is shifting rapidly (or, arguably, has already shifted) to mobile, your audio product is right there on the palm-top next to all of your competition. Whether you’re a radio station, or an Internet streamer, you’re sitting beside Spotify, AppleMusic, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and literally thousands of digital stations, plus the user’s own music collection. Your product has to be better. That means live, social, on-demand, and with all the personality and other brand attributes your audience loves you for.

Most importantly you have to tell your audience where to find you. Use your broadcast to let them know that they can find your station on its own app, and all the reasons your app is the best place to listen, like social interaction, on-demand content, newsfeeds, whatever else you’re providing them. And rest assured that all this smartphone listening can be measured by Nielsen’s mobile SDK.

TuneIn is fine for discovery, but your biggest fans deserve more. NextRadio is great, too, but it still has major distribution hurdles to clear. App usage habits are becoming ingrained now – so you want your app to be part of that habit.

To learn more about how connecting with your audience on mobile contact us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

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Connected Car Mobile Apps Radio

Surviving the Modern Dashboard

By: Vince Kattoula

Ginny Morris, Chairman & CEO of Hubbard Radio, said that she “worries more about connected cars than about streaming services.” After all the technological advancements radio has survived, the “connected car” may be the most challenging. For a while now, consumers have had the option to connect their smartphones to their vehicle via Bluetooth, and listen to music that way. The introduction of Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto into production vehicles means the app will be that much more central to people’s media consumption.

Apps are the best way to engage consumers through their mobile phone since it allows a variety of content (and content types like audio, video, text, etc.) to go with them no matter where they are. People experience media through the device of their choice, whether it be an Apple iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy (which runs on Android’s OS). CarPlay and Android Auto allow this choice to be taken to the place where they spend hundreds of hours annually – their vehicle.

So, what does this mean for your station? Simple – your mobile app is the way in. Not just your main stream, but your podcasts, HD and digital channels. At jacapps, we can help you sort through the connected car so your station is easy to find where it matters most – with the end user and in the place that matters most.

If you want to learn more about the connected car, contact us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

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Connected Car Mobile Apps

The OS in Your Car

By: Bob Kernen

At this late date in the digital revolution, most of us have made our decisions about the tech we like – you’re either a Mac person or a PC person, an iPhone person or an Android person. The new choice consumers are now being asked to make has to do with which operating system (OS) they want in their car.

Ford Sync was the first to market in 2008, but soon every major manufacturer had its own “connected car” system — Cue, Uconnect, lots of others, too. Usually with a touchscreen and a decidedly proprietary look and feel. Then in 2014, the big tech dogs announced that they were getting into the automotive game. Apple and Google both announced that they wanted a piece of your dash, too. Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto are now rolling out in new vehicles, and you only have to see a recent TV commercial for Chevy, or VW or Audi to see these systems in action.

So in spite of millions invested in proprietary in-car systems, most of the major manufacturers have conceded that people don’t want another choice, they want the choice they’ve already made (iPhone or Android) to work in their car, too.

There are some trade-offs. If you use CarPlay or Android Auto in your car, you may lose easy access to some of your car’s key functions – climate control, radio, etc. – but you will gain access to any apps on your phone that are enabled for these connected car systems. There are also still other in-car systems that you may bump into like SmartDeviceLink (Ford and Toyota), MirrorLink and even Panasonic’s One Connect.

So what’s a content provider or marketer to do? You have to add to your growing and ever more complicated digital strategy a plan for getting into this important environment. But it’s not entirely straightforward. There are lots of rules (you know, because safety) about what you can display on the car’s screen, and not every piece of content or functionality is going to make it to the dashboard. When thinking about it, think about the “3 M’s” – Media, Messaging and Mapping.

Your mobile app is the best way in, as your app can be enabled for any of these systems, and at jācapps we have focused on this crucial “connected car” space as part of our App Everywhere℠ strategy. We can help you to understand how to best deliver your content in this important, but highly restricted space.

In the future, maybe your car will become nothing but a giant “peripheral” to your smartphone, but as a car lover from Motown, I hope not.

To learn more about how to stay connected contact us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.