How are Apps driving today s technology? Phone: 01379 649200 www.midwich.com Midwich Limited,Vinces Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4YTP
Mobile devices are fast becoming standard equipment in today s world, with sales indicating that the trend shows little sign of declining. One only has to study the staggering statistics of smartphone and tablet sales growth to see why app usage has followed suit. The migration from desk PCs to mobile devices has meant that the app is fast becoming the accepted way to control, monitor and share material on a wide range of technology. The market As sales of traditional PCs demise, smartphones share of global mobile device shipments continue to increase. Worldwide sales of smartphones to end users totalled 968 million units in 2013, an increase of 42.3 percent from 2012, according to Gartner research. Sales of smartphones accounted for 53.6 percent of overall mobile phone sales in 2013, and exceeded annual sales of feature phones for the first time. Global sales of tablet computers surged 50.6 percent last year, with Apple clinging to the top vendor spot amid strong gains by rivals (source: International Data Corp 2013). In 2013, worldwide tablet shipments totalled 217.1 million, up from 144.2 million in 2012. It seems that growth is driven from high-profile smartphone and tablet launches from key manufacturers. In the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple and Samsung together raised their worldwide smartphone market share to 53.7 percent from 46.3 percent in the third quarter of 2012. Samsung ended the year in the No. 1 position, in both worldwide smartphone sales and overall mobile phone sales (source: Gartner 2013). Apple s marketing phrase of there s an app for that has never been more true as the countless number of apps available today cover every aspect of our lives; leisure, business, finance, gaming, utilities the list is endless. It is widely accepted that we are only witnessing the beginning of this trend. Research in 2013 from analytics provider Flurry revealed average app usage is now 2 hours and 19 minutes - up 12 minutes per day (or 9.5%) from 2012 an increase that s not as notable as the previous five years, the report found, which seems to point to a sort of levelling off in terms of how much time users have to spend on devices, and in apps. Such is the breadth of app usage, even just in the technology sector, that in this white paper we list a small selection of apps that complement technology available to the trade from Midwich.
Technology control apps Music Several manufacturers provide free apps that allow users to enjoy the benefits of streaming music and radio directly from their tablet or phone to any room. Using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, cloud music services, such as Spotify, allow streaming direct to suitable speakers. Manufacturers also provide apps that allow users own stored music library to be streamed direct to the music making hardware. In today s Smarthome environment, users can access their own local area network (LAN) to instantly access content with their required app, that can then be played back on a choice of devices. Print, scan and transfer Ideal for personal use or in the home office, print apps ensure smartphones and mobile tablets are loaded with all the latest print, scan and file transferring capabilities required for business on the move. Several leading manufacturers, including Samsung, Kyocera and Canon, provide free apps to make using their print and scanning hardware more convenient to monitor and share files - wherever they are. Home entertainment The latest home entertainment systems from leading manufacturers come ready to receive instruction from a variety of apps. As well as virtual remote controls for televisions, which emulate the original manufacturer equipment, many of today s high end, home entertainment AV receivers can be fully controlled via an app, allowing users to not only control volume and source material, but also to stream content direct from their device to be played via their home entertainment system using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Lighting and automation Automated buildings, or smart buildings as they are sometimes known, continue to grow in popularity. Analysts IDC report that the smart building market will grow 28.4% in 2014. Apps are available to work in sync with wall control systems, giving the user total control over lighting, security systems, audio and even window blind operation, in either home or business. Percentage of time spent 7 in 10 adults in the UK have a smartphone. TNS, on behalf of Delloite, May 2013 Mobile Apps Mobile web Mobile Apps 20% 14% 80% 86% 2013 2014 Source: Flurry Analytics
Technology control apps Security Reducing the fixed costs of manpower is considerable when apps are used as part of a security and surveillance solution. Apps from security manufacturers allow users to view content from their IP cameras directly on their mobile device, whilst moving around the perimeter of the grounds or even from remote locations. The Panasonic Security Viewer Ver.2.0 application enables users to view the images from i-pro Smart HD series network cameras or network disk recorder. By connecting to 3G/4G or wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), it is possible to view live images from cameras registered on the recorder and stored images. Boardroom solutions Meetings and presentations can start without the hassle of connecting devices with cables. Panasonic professional projectors and displays with Wi-Fi certified Miracast allow seamless mirroring of content on smartphones, without cables. AV control specialists AMX provide an app that allows for wireless control in boardrooms and conference rooms, controlling AV equipment for presentations or training. Video conferencing Most people are familiar with Skype and Facetime as a way to communicate via their smartphones, but today s technology allows for enterprise-grade video conferencing solutions to be used just as easily. All VC brands available from Midwich have a desktop client or app that allows for mobile device users to communicate with traditional VC deployment, wherever they are. 91% of all people on earth have a mobile phone. AF-Studio.pl and Super Monitoring
Education Technology control apps Presenting Presentations can be made from mobile devices with a variety of apps from leading manufacturers, making it possible to link mobile phones and tablets directly to projectors via WLAN. Teaching material can be prepared on a computer and then presented whenever desired, providing an ideal solution for teachers to share largerthan-life content around the classroom. Apps are also there to improve everyday efficieny. Teaching Assistant, from Kyocera, will automatically mark all student papers in seconds. It eliminates all human error and returns error-free test results while automatically compiling comprehensive reports and statistics that are ready to use. Creativity Students can create printable 3D content in lessons using apps such as Draw from Cubify, The app allows students and teachers to create 3D printable content with their fingertips. Users can digitally draw or trace to enhance a design before making their creation on a 3D printer. Individual recording studio The OneMix app allows multiple ipads to be set up by the user to give each musician customised personal monitor control via Wi-Fi connection to GLD without the risk of affecting the other monitors or FOH main mix.
Summary Technology control apps Manufacturers move towards apps as the future A 2013 international survey from analysts IDC revealed an undeniable trend in the manufacturing space in recent years has been the move towards intelligent devices devices that use software to control, for instance, product features, function and/ or capacity. The flexibility of applications whether embedded within the product or external applications capable of accessing the hardware allows device makers to sell differentiated products and create new revenue streams while simultaneously streamlining the manufacturing process. According to IDC, device manufacturers overwhelmingly see the advantages of the intelligent device model, and are seeking to transform their businesses through the power of software. 68% of the respondents participating in the survey say they already develop intelligent devices, and an additional 19% say they plan on adopting an intelligent device model within the next 12-24 months. Indeed, only a small percentage of manufacturers who responded to the survey do not see software in their future. 14% of respondents say they will not be moving to the intelligent device model. What this means is that mobile control of technology is here to stay. Just as the PC changed the way we communicate, store and source information, the app is changing the way in which we control the devices and technology in our lives both at home and in the workplace. The future, especially with technology, is always going to be hard to predict but, with the arrival of hologram capability on smartphones predicted within five years, it can be assumed that how to hologram apps with interactivity will follow. It remains to be seen whether wearable tech will catch on to the same degree as smartphones and tablets, but the app has established itself as a convenient part of everyday life and seems set to remain, complementing whatever technology lays on the horizon. Midwich Limited Vinces Road Diss Norfolk, IP22 4YT Phone: 01379 649200 www.midwich.com Copyright Midwich Limited 2014. Midwich Ltd, Vinces Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4YT. KD6199-Q2-14.