Chapter 21
Nearly Ten Things to Know about Apps
IN THIS CHAPTER
Why you should tread carefully in the app universe
Understanding how apps can benefit your bottom line
At the risk of starting with the very basics, apps are to smartphones what software is to personal computers. As we spend more time on smartphones, more programs — known as apps — are being developed to run on our phones.
Most apps are offered by large companies as another option for their customers to be in touch with and interact with what they offer. The financial institutions that you do business with — banks, mutual fund companies, brokerage firms, and so on — are a common example. For sure, some start-ups focus on apps because they can provide the company with a potentially lower-cost way to get new customers.
In this chapter, I provide advice for how to make the most out of apps and sidestep common app pitfalls and problems, and I highlight the best financial apps that I have reviewed.
You May Well Get What You Paid for with “Free” Apps
Though they haven’t gotten the attention that computer viruses, computer malware, and computer ransomware attacks have garnered, similar problems have arisen with smartphone apps. The worst of the lot can end up tracking and spying on you. The worst ones are a scam and/or ...
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