As mobile devices have become more and more sophisticated, they have demanded networks that allow them to fulfill their potential. As 3G and later 4G systems were built, many businesses and public places also installed free Wi-Fi for their patrons. Together, these two major steps forward in connectivity have made streaming activity much more feasible.
The area most affected by this revolution has been entertainment. There is an amazing array of options available for mobile device users in search of entertainment and information they can use on the go.
Because of the networking speed and device capabilities, apps have the ability to do almost anything. And the improvement in sound, picture quality, and mobile screen size just feeds the demand. The most popular apps fit into several basic areas.
Gaming
The growth of popularity for these apps is rooted largely in spare time and boredom. People don’t like to sit for hours at the doctor’s office or the airport with nothing to do, so they download games to play while they wait.
They fit into several broad categories. Arcade games harken back to the 1980s heyday of 25-cent machines with finite game duration; your character gets “killed” three times and the infamous GAME OVER appears on the screen. These are very popular when there’s just a little time to spend on the game.
There are also more involved platforms. Casino Room runs a network of online gambling options that includes 800 games that feature all your typical casino-style games with some amazing jackpots.
Of course, the prospect of the competitive continuity of casinos drives the popularity of many other games involving cards, slots, roulette, and everything else Vegas can offer.
News & Weather
Forget about the nine o’clock news. Modern phone users can go online with direct apps operated by major news and weather organizations, viewing breaking news and in-studio updates from all over the world. This is particularly helpful for people who have moved away from their hometown; rather than miss the latest local news from their old haunts, they can use an app operated by the area’s television station and, in many cases, watch the broadcasts live.
Weather is another domain of great personal importance. Radar apps show you conditions right down to your front door, and you can search the world for their local radar as well–a great way to see how things are going at the slopes before you head out for your ski vacation. These apps can also provide alerts to severe weather, making this one area where apps could potentially save lives.
Movies & TV
Perhaps no field of entertainment has been revolutionized quite like this one. Just a few years ago, the idea of watching a movie wirelessly on a lightweight screen would have been laughable. Yet here we are with Netflix and many other services that allow users to do just that. The impact on the entertainment industry is hard to estimate, but there must be some positive impact on the movie and TV industry when millions of users suddenly have many more hours in a week to view their films and shows.
With the improvement in devices and connections, entertainment has entered a whole new world of accessibility.
