I had a long conversation the other day with one of our clients.  She was lamenting about the fact that software for business has become overcomplicated. She felt that there are just too many options within the various programs that are fairly irrelevant, or at least appear that way to an individual user.  And let's not get into the whole "there's an app for that" discussion.  I understand that Apple has applied for trademark protection of the phrase, so there may be reason to have some fun with the phrase.  If I say it quick enough, "there's an app for that," it sounds like  the AFLAC commercial. Go ahead, say it fast and with a bit of a nasal tone .. an app for that and it becomes "anappferthat".  While I digress, the point of bringing this to your attention, and why it's worthy of being part of this discussion, is because I think we're all wondering if there are more "apps" than we'll ever be able to handle.  I'm wondering how we'll keep track of them all.  Word has it that there are over 300,000 iPhone apps and 60,000 iPad apps.  The Android app market is growing exponentially, currently sitting with about 150,000.  Some analysts say that if the rate of growth for both continues, the Android apps will outpace Apple's by mid 2012.   We will then need an app to manage all of our apps!

There is software that is more than an app, it is the business software that we use every day.  The phone call that led me to write to you about this topic was one I've had with customers and others for years.  This particular client was lamenting that she thinks software has become like orange juice.  It used to be that we'd just go to the store and buy orange juice.  Now we go to buy orange juice and there are twenty different types.  You have with pulp, without pulp, with calcium, without calcium, organic natural, fortified or non-fortified and the list seems to go on and on.  Oh, and heaven forbid you should try to send someone else to pick up orange juice for you.  Who knows what they'll come back with? It's a bit overwhelming and can be frustrating.

So why is there a compulsive need for companies to upgrade products and add so many new "features" (I use that word cautiously)?  Well, I think it's a tough situation.  Software providers tend to add what we might call bells and whistles/features. They try to be all things to all people in order to get the most appeal to the broadest market.  But sometimes, as we all know, less is more.  Looking at a particular software product's key focus and having it work well for a specific industry is probably more important.  I sometimes fall prey to the, "but maybe it should do this too", syndrome.  I tend to like to dig deep and have a lot of freedom of usage.  Therefore, I sometimes think my customers will too.  I have to be diligent to stay focused on tracking what our users say they want and not get sidetracked into adding more than is useful to the majority.  Meanwhile, I am trying to give enough maneuverability to users, like me, who like to push the envelope of options.  

What about you?  Are you reaching the point where more is just that...more?  Or are you happy with the explosion of apps and improvements to the software you rely on most?  Are learning curves due to constant upgrades and added features or are they sometimes too big like a Victoria Secret model on steroids?  I can't wait to hear your thoughts. 

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