There are a whopping number of mobile apps that make both personal and professional life fun. A few years back, I always dreamed of relishing my favorite apps on Windows so that I don’t have to divvy up my concentration with my phone when working on a PC.
Thankfully today's high-tech world now allows us to hoard various apps on desktops as well. Being a tech fanatic, I am on cloud nine.
To share my joy, I will discuss the details of these 5 valuable apps that are also available to download for Windows and Mac.
- Slack
- Netflix
- Skype
- Spotify
WhatsApp is one of my favorite social networking platforms and I use it day and night. After all, it is a way users can stay close to their pals and family.
It is an instant messaging platform where users can share their daily moments in the form of texts, images, videos, calls, and voice notes. People can also create groups and chat with multiple people at the same time to double the fun.
Some of the other incredible features include document sharing, Whatsapp Web, free calls, the option to share location, and setting custom wallpapers. What’s more interesting is that WhatsApp always stays logged on a device.
How WhatsApp Works
Users can download the app for their mobile phone from the app stores and sign-up with a valid phone number. This is how Whatsapp connects you to others, through the sharing of your mobile number. You can add a profile picture and a unique username to make your account obviously yours.
Users can also engage in video calls, audio calls, send voice notes, and much more. Basically, people can create a friendly space without any hassle. Interestingly, a user doesn’t have to spend extra time downloading the emulator for WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is completely free to download and use and is readily available for desktop computers on the official website. Click on ‘Download For Windows’ and wait for a few minutes. After the download is complete, launch the app by double-clicking on the file. That is it, create an account and start chatting.
Slack
Slack is a top-notch business communication platform that allows me to chit-chat and share work details with my colleagues and fellow employees while working remotely. Whether individuals work remotely or in-house, Slack can help to boost communication and collaboration among team members.
Its A-list features include messaging, calling, sharing documents and files, and customizing notifications. Users can also integrate Slack to tools that are already in use at the workplace, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Twitter, or others.
As my company already uses Slack, I didn’t find it strenuous making it a part of my routine. However, in case a user is new, he or she can learn to set-up an account via tutorials on YouTubeor the official Slack guide to get started.
Slack is readily available as a mobile app and a desktop app. To install Slack on the desktop, visit the official website. Click on the Download option, wait for it to complete, and then double-click on the file. Slack will automatically launch on the desktop after the system is done with the installation.
Pricing Scheme
Slack is mostly free but the free version only allows users to browse 10,000 of the most recent messages, and integrate Slack with only 10 apps. The file storage will also be limited to 5 GB.
For larger-scale businesses, a subscription is required ranging from a Standard plan for $8 per month or a Plus plan for $15 per month. The platform also features the Enterprise Gold plan, in which the pricing schemes are customized.
Netflix
I cannot miss watching my most-loved TV series and movies on Netflix, even for a day. After all, Netflix is one of the best places to binge-watch award-winning series, documentaries, short films, and stand-up specials from around the world.
Through the mobile app, be it for iPhone or Android, users can easily take their shows with them. But when at home, I am all up for Netflix’s desktop app. Simply because I find nothing entertaining than a big screen to binge-watch with a big bowl of popcorn.
To download Netflix for your mobile phone, head to the Google Play Storeor the Apple App Store. Search for ‘Netflix’ and select the accurate result. Then from the app's page, click ‘Install’ or ‘Get’ to download to your device.
To download Netflix for a PC or Mac visit the official Netflix website. Microsoft also offers a handy Netflix app for Windows 8 or Windows 10 on a PC. To get the most out of using the streaming service, make sure you have a good internet connection to avoid annoying lags or loading issues.
Pricing Scheme
Signing up for Netflix is a simple premise. Open the app, fill in your details and choose the subscription plan that best suits your needs to continue.
Netflix isn’t free but it's definitely worth the price. It offers a variety of plans as per individuals’ needs and suitability. The Basic plan is $8.99 per month, the Standard plan is $13.99 per month, and the Premium plan is $17.99 per month.
The different plans affect not only the streaming quality but also the number of streams. While the Basic and Standard plan customers can access one and two screens, respectively, the Premium plan allows for playing four screens simultaneously.
Skype
Skype is one of the most famous video calling apps among both personal and professional users. Other than official business meetings, it is a perfect solution to stay connected with friends even during the time of social distancing.
Skype allows users to chat and create groups for friends or family reunions. The app also includes the feature of voice calling for video-shy people. Skype livens up the conversation with loved ones with features like sharing voice messages, pictures and texts, funny emoticons, and GIFs.
Downloading Skype for desktop is pretty straightforward. Visit the Skype website and click on the option ‘Download Skype’, and select from a number of options depending on what kind of desktop computer you're using. After it has finished downloading, click the icon to launch Skype.
To get started, create an account and add or sync your contacts. Once you have people added to your contact list, you can click their profile to call them. To call a phone, you can click on ‘call phones’ or type in a phone number.
Subscription Plan
Skype is free to download on desktop and other devices. All a user needs is a great internet connection to enjoy undisturbed video calling. Nevertheless, the app also includes some in-app purchases.
The subscription plans begin at $2.99 per month. This helps users to connect to people outside the platform. The quality of video calls also improves when subscribed to the premium version of the app.
Spotify
I love when my soul feels serene listening to the melodious beats on Spotify. It is one of the most popular music platforms to discover music and listen to your all-time favorite tunes. It is also a hot spot for tons of awesome podcasts.
Users can search a song, find a playlist, play the radio station, and browse their favorite music to dive deep into the sea of melodies. All this can happen with a good internet connection if a user has not paid for the plan.
The app is free to download and free to use but doesn't include key features like being able to listen offline or create and save playlists of your own. Subscriptions for the app, ranging from $3.99 to $12.99, not only give you access to these features, but also removes ads from music, podcasts, and everything else.
You can download Spotify for iOS and Android devices from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store for the mobile version. But to listen on the desktop, get your hands on the excellent desktop version.
How to Download Spotify for Desktop
For individuals who are excited to have this app on their desktop, start by visiting the Spotify website. Once there, click on the download option and it will begin downloading onto your computer.
After the download is complete, look for the app in the downloads folder and double-click on it. Allow the installation to complete and then launch to create an account and start listening, or set up a subscription plan.
In Conclusion
The technical world is a lot more delightful with amazing apps available both for mobiles and PCs. I love being able to access my favorites apps from my computer and take advantage of the larger screen and the efficiency of using a mouse and keyboard.
Music listening, movie streaming, work collaborating, and video chatting are available on all your beloved devices.
