Nokia Lumia Windows Phone App Starters

It's been 3 months since I have been using the Nokia Lumia 800, and all I can say is that it's a pleasure using the phone. The interface is just different and amazing, its interactive and lively, and it actually helps me live my everyday life. For those who are looking to transition to a smart phone, and are looking for a great different experience, the Lumia is phone. But the best is yet to come.

One of the biggest phone launches in the US has been that of the Nokia Lumia 900. Bigger in screen size, and with a front camera, the Lumia 900 is an upgraded version of the Lumia 800 and is expected to launch in India in May end- early June. Those looking to purchase a smartphone should wait and  consider the 900.

With a very different and flowing interface, the app experience on the Lumia is very different compared to the Android and iOS. Some apps are beautifully made and extremely easy to use. All you need to do is swipe left or swipe right, and you will get full access to app features and sections. When you get a Lumia, what are the apps that you MUST have? Here is a list of my must apps for the Lumia:

1. Contact Transfer: This is the most important app when you are just setting up you phone. While this app comes inbuilt, you can also download it from the Windows Marketplace. You can transfer your address book from your old phone to the Lumia in seconds without any trouble whatsoever. This is just the beginning of how easy everything else on the phone is, to figure out and use.

2. AAWP: All About Windows Phone is an app that allows you to keep track of what is happening in the Windows World of Mobile Phones. With access to articles, webcasts, and reviews, you can be up to date all the time.

3. Burglar Alarm: This app can serve two purposes - one is entertainment and two is actual utility. On opening up the app, you can set a timer and place your phone anywhere. After the timer counts down, if anybody touches or removes the phone from its original position, a loud burglar alarm goes off. While some may be actually stung by it, it is also good to play a prank on someone.

4. CNN: Made by Nokia specially for the Lumia, the CNN app will keep you up-to-date with what is happening in the world. By swiping, you can get access to the latest news, news sections, videos and you can even file an iReport. You can pin this app to your start screen. The tile is self updating and you can get a good glance of the latest news without opening the app.

5. Creative Studio (by Nokia): It would be unfair to call this the Instagram of Windows Phone, but this app allows you to add effects to your photos. You can either take a new photo with effects or take a photo from your albums and edit it with great effects. From face warps to live style, you can do them all. Sharing them can be done from the Photos tab.

5. XE Currency: For those who like to keep track of currency exchange rates, then this app is by far the best to do exactly just that.

6. Delhi Metro: If you stay in Delhi or visiting, then this is a must have.From a great introduction, you can access station lists, tokens and smart cards info, fare calculations, metro museum info, metro lines info, tourist maps and places. Its an app of great utility.

7.Dictionary.com: Have you ever come across a situation where you are reading something and suddenly come across a word, the meaning of which you don't know? The dictionary app is there to solve that problem. Just type in the word, and you will get the meaning along with its usage.

8. Economic Times: Keep ahead of the market with the ET app. With a fantastic interface, the app makes financial and business information lively, colorful and interesting. The app has truly adopted the tile interface, making it look like it is just the perfect app that was made for the Windows Phone.

9.Engadget: If you're a gadget and technology freak, get this app to be updated about all the developments in the digital world.

10. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn: While these apps are available individually, you can configure these accounts while setting up your phone. They can then be accessed through the People Hub in a very unified and comprehensive manner. The People Hub actually aggregates social information from all networks and merges them to provide a database of information of all your friends, contacts and acquaintances. An offshoot of the People Hub is Me, which shows you your activities on different social networks as well as on your phone.

11. Flashlight: Use you phone flash as a torch with this app.

12. Google: While Bing is the default search engine on the phone, you can also get the Google app as an alternate search engine.

13. IBNLive: Stay up-to-date with whats happening in India with the IBNLive app. You can also watch CNN IBN Live through the app. Pin it to the start screen, and the tile updates itself to the latest news.

14. Lumia Highlights: Get tips, tricks, highlights, app recommendations and and accessories for the Lumia

15. NDTV: Another news app to get you the latest from India.

16. Nokia Drive: Downloads maps of the region you belong too, and never get lost again. This free voice turn-by-turn navigation is a great plus point that iOS and Android lack.

17. Nokia Maps: Use maps to find places close by, your current position as well as a host of other things. This app supplements the Local Scout feature on your phone.

18. SkyDrive: SkyDrive is the cloud offering from Microsoft. You get 7GB of free space (as an old user, I still get 25GB). You can save all your documents, pictures, PDFs and other files from your computer on SkyDrive and access it on your phone. The Office app on the phone supplements the SkyDrive app.

19. Skype: The Skype interface is amazing, but the Lumia 900 will make it better as there is a front facing camera as well. With that you dont have to hold the phone the opposite way not being able to see the person your having a video call with, just so that the other person can see you.

20. True Caller: True Caller helps you track mobile numbers. All you have to do is type in a number, and it will tell you who the number belongs to. This app however uploads your address book to their database when you agree to their terms and conditions and use this app.

21. TuneIn Radio: While there is inbuilt radio on the Lumia, TunIn is made by Nokia for Windows and allows you to listen to your favorite music with just a few clicks.

22. Viber: Being incredibly successful on iOS and Android, Viber has now come to the Windows Phone. Call any other Viber user through VoIP and talk endlessly at no calling cost, though data charges may apply.

23. Weather: From the Weather Channel, get the latest weather outside. Pin it to your start screen and get live weather info always.

24. Whats App: No phone is complete without Whats App. Chat with people using different phones using whats app. This app needs no further description as most people know what it is.

25. Games: Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Plants vs Zombies, Doodle Jump, Uno, Monopoly, Tetris

26. Adobe Reader: Use Adobe Reader to read all your PDF Documents.

27.YouTube: Get the YouTube app to surf videos on the net from your phone. The app, however, takes you to the browser to view the video.

28. Shazam: Heard a song which you like but dont know the name? Use Shazam to find out which song that is. Pin it to the start screen, and recognize songs with just a tap on the tile.

29. Book My Show: Use BMS to see the latest movies in the theaters, timings as well as book your tickets then and there.

These apps should make your Lumia good to go. The Windows Phone often comes under criticism for the number of apps available. I however think that is the utility of the app that makes more of a difference than the number. The Windows Marketplace has all the apps you would possibly need. If an app is not there, then you can be rest assured that the app will come to the platform sooner or later. One disappointment is that the XBOX Companion app is not available in India. The app helps you use your phone as a controller for your XBOX. 

Book Review: The Dragonfly Effect

Social media is not a fad, its a revolution. It’s revolutionizing the rules of game and is redefining the way we communicate and share. If Facebook was a country, it  would be the most populated after China and India. With so many people on social media, how do you design campaigns and carry out activities that become viral with netizens? Stanford University Professor Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith of Vonavona ventures explain how Social Technology can be used to drive social change through their new book ‘The Dragonfly Effect’. 

The Dragonfly Effect is based on the premise that small actions can lead to a large changes and help achieve the desired results. The book also delves into the human psychology and explains how social technologies can be harnessed by understanding the psyche of the human mind and appeal to those senses that make people behave in the way required. 

Aaker and Smith put down a model which explains how we must design our social media efforts to achieve the desired results: Focus + GET or social media is a function of Focus, Grab Attention, Engage and Take Action.

FOCUS

It is very important to identify concrete and measurable goals. This can be achieved through the design principles of HATCH. The first principle is to be Humanistic - to understand your audience, rather than making assumptions about them. The second is Actionable - the goals need to be broken down into long-term macro goals and short term micro-goals so that there is proper direction of thought and efforts. The third is Testable - while designing a campaign it is necessary to identify core metrics that can test the effectiveness of the campaign. The fourth is Clarity - the goal must be very clear so achieving success is more possible and the last is Happiness - your goals and efforts have to meaningful and important to you and your audience. 

GRAB ATTENTION

There is a lot of friff-fraff out there. How can you capture the attention and imagination of your audience in all of this? The Dragonfly Effect explains how through the design principles of PUVV. The first principle is Personal - it is important to make you campaign very personal and make it important to your audience. It must appeal to each member of your audience and there must be a personal connect. The second principle is Unexpected - the campaign must have an offering that catches your audience off guard, but is able to catch their fancy. The third principle is Visual - visuals must be used to communicate your message. The last principle is Visceral - campaigns must be designed to evoke all the senses of your audiences and appeal to deep underlying emotions. 

ENGAGE

Just grabbing attention of your audience alone is not enough, you have to keep them engaged. This can be done through the design principles of TEAM. Tell Stories - Stories move us, make us feel alive and inspire us. They must be compelling and convey critical information. Empathize - Let your audience engage with you. See what is important for them and how that fits your campaign. Be Authentic - It will be easier to connect with your audience if your campaign is authentic; it will facilitate a greater connect with you and your audience. Match the media - Align communication and context. Its just not about how  and where we say it, but also what we say. 

TAKE ACTION

Your campaign must be designed in a way take empowers your audience to take the desired course of action. The action is what you want your audience to do or consume after they have received and engaged with your message. There are four design principle that enable others to take action: EFTO. Easy - make it simple for others to act. Chose the right call to action and ensure people understand what is needed so that they can take action immediately. Fun - make taking action fun and playful. Use humor, competitions, rewards and game play. Tailored - Make people feel they are advantaged to have a huge impact. Open - Empower others to take action, no one should have to take permission to act. 

These principles are explained in the book with interesting and succinct examples which give deep insights and understanding of how these principles work in the real world. Prominent examples are the Obama Presidential campaign of 2008, Kiva, Team Sameer and Team Vinay.

The book provides a clear roadmap on how Social campaigns must be undertaken and gives models and flowcharts that helps marketers answer questions about their campaigns that expose a gap (if any). This book is a must read for anyone who wants to use Social Media, but doesn’t know how to.