What Makes Progressive Web Apps an Attractive Solution for Businesses

Now is the age of “look-alike” apps that are aptly named Progressive Web Apps (PWA). A PWA is driven by modern web features, enabling business users to experience an app-like visibility and functionality. You have a choice to either deploy it as a Progressive Web Apps or a Native app so that your business can make the most of both the channels of interface.

These Progressive Web Apps can be deployed to servers which are indexed by search engines and are accessible via URLs. Not calling for any complex installation, these apps can handhold businesses in more ways than one.

Before we look into the advantages of PWAs, let us now delve deep into what makes these apps stand out from others which offer the regular web-based experiences.

Features of PWAs

  • The Concept of Progressiveness

Speaking of the word “progressive” that comes with these modern apps, this name makes it possible for every user to derive the best out of PWAs irrespective of the choice of browser.

It is though their core principle of progressive enhancement that make these apps a class above the rest. They can seamlessly fit into any device including mobiles, tablets or even a desktop.

  • Ease of Operation

Once you enter a website that can be used as a PWA, you will be asked to pin the PWA to your mobile phone screen.

This feature will help you retain the apps that you find are beneficial to you on the home screen of your mobile. This will not only save the app but will also allow you to start using it whenever you want.

  • The Offline Support

As with normal websites which run on internet connectivity at all times, this is not the case with PWAs. It uses cache memory that enable you stay connected via the offline mode.

This means that, all PWAs are independent of net connectivity, allowing you to either work offline or on slow-speed networks.

  • The Luxury of Staying Abreast With New Content

Another striking feature of PWAs is linked to their ability to work in the background. These apps, through push notifications help you stay abreast with the latest content.

This way, you can benefit through the app which will not only synch your data but will also send it to the user despite being inactive.

  • The Safety Feature

All these PWAs come with the HTPPS protocol. That means, these apps are safe, always securing your content from misuse or tampering.

After understanding the benefits of PWAs, now is the time to unveil the advantages of PWAs to businesses.

1. Ease of Implementation

If you are looking to understand everything that makes PWAs an attractive solution to businesses, the first amongst them is their ease of implementation.

All the PWAs come with JavaScript as the standard front-end language. PWAs hence do not call for any change in the scripting language. Simply apply the expertise of your in-house or outsourced JavaScript developers and you are all covered.

To sum it all, you can ensure a hassle-free implementation of your PWA without any additional resources, manpower or technologies.

2. Benefits to Users With Regard to Simplified Implementation of PWAs

After discussing the ease to implement a PWA from an operational perspective, let us now move on to the advantages your customers will enjoy.

PWAs do not need you to download and install them from either the App Store or Windows Store. On the other hand, as soon as you start using a PWA, you will be prompted to pin the app to your smartphone’s home screen.

Read also : How To Create an App For Your Small Business

Once this is done, you will be able to use it without any hassles through the PWA icon. This procedure not only enables your app to come live in a jiffy but will also spare you the review process that comes with either a Play Store or an App Store.

3. It’s All About Speed Loading

PWAs load faster even while working offline. Statistics state that about 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. This is a serious problem that can affect businesses and their bottom-line.

Through PWAs, you can safeguard your online business presence. Your customers can simply navigate to the site on either a Chrome or Safari browser and get going. Thus, PWAs come as awesome tools for marketers to promote their products and services to the world of shoppers and clients.

4. Revenue Conversions

PWAs guarantee a reliable and effective online mobile shopping or transactional experience. This assurance, which is not linked to location, time or network availability constraints will help you rake in rewards.

When your business starts addressing the needs of your target audience, you will be able to provide the luxury of mobility to the world at large with a commitment to offer smooth and quick responses. These responses come in the form of push notifications which will help your customers to get informed about reminders and marketing offers.

5. The Cross-Platform Functionality

As with regular websites, you will be able to make use of PWAs on multiple platforms. As you already know that iOS does not support important Application Program Interfaces (APIs), you have a solution coming in the form of Adobe PhoneGap or Apache Cordova.

It is through this software plug-in that you can empower your PWA to interact with different platforms alongside program a host of graphical user interface (GUI) components.

6. Experience the Supremacy of Google

Here is another huge advantage in favor of PWAs. The fact that these apps are backed by one of the largest global software companies named Google, you can surely imagine what’s in store for these apps.

Backed by a strong intent from Google to churn out many websites offering “app-like” experiences to end users, the time is ripe for PWAs to be tagged as the perfect companions to native mobile apps.

7. The Native Apps v/s PWAs

Native apps which are developed for a particular service or platform are best suited to engage brand loyalists. Allowing loyal customers to install your app, you can ensure that you gain visibility. On the flip side, Progressive Web Apps can be used to reach out to new users.

Once they start interacting with your PWA, there will come a time when they can eventually download your native app. That means, you don’t have to replace native apps with PWAs but can enable both of them to work hand-in-hand.

The fact that PWAs offer the same engaging and responsive feel matching a native app stands in favor of the “best of both the worlds” maxim. Your customers will not only find your PWA interactive and engaging but will also enjoy better mobile browsing experience.

8. Brand Visibility Enhanced Through Push Notifications

User-engagement is a promising feature for any online business to thrive. PWAs come with an in-built ability to send real-time alerts to your customers as part of your user-engagement strategy.

It is through push notifications that your business will stand to gain even when the app is not running. Through this mobile app feature, you will be able to attract the attention of users towards your brand.

9. Low on Data Usage

Another fine detail that makes PWAs a star attraction to businesses is linked to data usage. All thanks to the way in which PWAs are built, they do not call for high data usage once it is installed. Repeat visitors to the app can get away with decreased loads.

Closing Thoughts

Keeping in mind all the above-explained advantages of PWAs to your app development business, you will be poised to create a strong mobile presence in more ways than you can imagine.

The keywords are increased conversion, interaction rate and customer engagement along with decreased loading times and data usage. These are all the star attractions of PWAs that can be employed by businesses to scale new heights.

6 New Features of Google Assistant That Impact Mobile App Development

Within a short time span, AI has already become one of most discussed technology among science and tech-based organizations and more companies are showing an interest in Artificial Intelligence than ever before. Google’s prime invest of $400 billion itself is a known factor that AI apps are becoming a mainstream. Having a personal assistant to do your entire task brings more users to try this, which in turn increases the potential of apps.

And now with Google I/O annual developers’ conference event, the company has brought Google AI to spotlight with many additional features that could make a great impact in the world of mobile app technology.

In this article let’s check out how the tech giant is going to use AI on its products:

1) Google Duplex:

Google Duplex

This is one of the main features that stole the show at the 2018 Google I/O, the Google Duplex which is company’s new experimental technology. The highlighted advantage of this feature is that it lets AI-powered bots to make a call for your personal needs. I know it sounds quite crazy but this is now real…

Google Duplex is a neural network that can be trained for highly specialized tasks which use Google’s automatic speech recognition technology. It enables the AI to relieve you from tiring tasks, like making a restaurant reservation or a hair salon appointment. And the best part is that the person talking would have no idea they are talking to a machine, because it’s that real.

For example, the AI would suggest the name of the salon or the timing you wish to book an appointment or make an online booking service using a phone call. Google Assistant will also check the working hours, and make the booking according to the time you want to. Duplex is designed to respond in a natural manner and adapt to responses in real time and the feature will be rolling out in the coming weeks in the US.

2) Google Maps makes Navigation Easier:

Navigation

To make navigation easier, Google has introduced Visual Guidance and Visual Positioning System in Google Maps Navigation. Google aims at navigating Street view and Maps by combining AI with camera features. Within this, you can use your camera while walking through streets/roads and follow the animation that is been displayed on the screen. The exact reflection of your camera is shown on the screen with the complete route navigation map of to which direction you are approaching.

To make this feature more amazing and more fun to use, Google has also incorporated a guide companion in the form of an animated character- ‘a fox’. Your guide companion will run in front of you on the screen towards the direction you need to go.

Along with these features, the Explore tab on Map has also been re-designed to show recommendation based on the area the user search. Any options for dining, events and other activities available around your area will be displayed. Each result displayed, will be according to the reviews given by local experts, trusted publishers and Google’s Algorithm.

3) Google sets “Pretty Please” feature for Kids:

Pretty Please

No more yelling at your Google Assistant or home smart speaker because Google has set this new feature on request from many parents & families. The main aim of this feature is to teach children to speak polite language when interacting with the Assistant and in return, the AI will say thanks to kids.

While using this feature, the voice assistant will respond to children with some positive reinforcement at the same time also performs the requested task.

4) New AI-powered Feature Can Write Emails for You:

Google Photos Gets Exciting New Features

Google has revealed a new feature that will power a new Gmail technology for users that can write and send emails on behalf of yours. An add-on feature named Smart Compose lets you quickly create or compose emails by suggesting words or phrases that you might use, just like an advanced version of auto-correct. This feature not only saves time but also reduces grammatical and spelling mistakes.

5) Google Photos Gets Exciting New Features:

At the Google conference, new features have been incorporated that budding smart phone photographers would be desperate to use. Photo sharing is made easy and the facial recognition feature lets grouping of same people photos, creating their albums and also quick sharing.

Other feature for photos that can suggest photo editing improvements like contrast, brightness, colorization and selective desaturation. AI algorithms also have the ability to suggest who to share pictures with based on faces on the photo.

6) A Revamp of Google News Features:

Revamp of Google News Features

Google News will have the feature Google Material Theme based on AI that make accessing much faster and easier for users. From now, the relevant top 5 stories will be listed first according to the user preferences.

The most interesting feature in this section is ‘Full Coverage’ which lines up the various perspective of news based on data from opinions, related tweets, analyses and much more. According to Google, this is going to be an unbiased way to approach complex stories, for getting the full scope of the story relying on AI.

Conclusion:

From all these features, its certainly understood that Google has completely adapted to the changing world and technology in meaningful and productive ways which can earn tangible benefits to their users.  Google is already the biggest search engine that brings in any information at your fingertips in no time. With incorporating AI, Google has proved that it can go a long way with technology to achieve remarkable goals in future as well.

Top 11 JavaScript Frameworks For Mobile App Development

The mobile application development has seen such a great paradigm shift that we have a user interface that is optimized for fingers and not for mouse cursors, not anymore.

In addition to that, there are bandwidth restrictions that most of the smart devices have and that is why mobile app developers ought to stay ahead in this challenging world and come up with some of the finest solutions in the form of excellent functional mobile applications.

Mobile platforms such as Android, Windows, and iOS use different programming languages. For example, an Android mobile apps is coded using Java language, the iOS mobile application is coded using Objective-C, and a Windows mobile application is coded using .NET.

Just like on web application, does JavaScript have a similar effect on mobile application development as well? Nevertheless, with sound knowledge of JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, mobile application developers can develop some of the best apps. Today, in this post we will discuss some of the best JavaScript frameworks for mobile apps development.

1. jQuery Mobile

With too many smartphones available in the market, it is essential to take care while developing a mobile application that not only can load faster but also customized and functional across various platforms.

When compared to other frameworks, jQuery Mobile comes number one in the list when you have to develop an app that loads faster.

  • Create cross-platform applications faster.
  • Cost-affordable hybrid mobile app development.
  • HTML5 and CSS3 for a better touch-optimized UI.
  • Lightweight Framework for faster loading.
  • Ajax-powered navigation with animated page transitions.
  • Uniform user interface for all platforms and devices.

2. PhoneGap

Otherwise known as Apache Cordova, PhoneGap is a widely utilized framework, especially for cross-platform mobile application development.

It is highly recommended for projects that have budget issues. just by utilising a single codebase, multiple versions of the application can be created by PhoneGap.

  • Single code base for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, and Windows).
  • Simple rapid testing and deployment of the application.
  • Tapping into device’s hardware such as camera and geolocation will be easy.
  • No need for additional knowledge of development.
  • Needs less time and efforts.

3. Mobile Angular UI

An HTML5 framework, Mobile Angular UI utilizes Bootstrap 3 and AngularJS to develop highly interactive mobile applications.

If you are a huge fan of angular, then this is the right Framework for you. not only does it provide important mobile components such as overlays, sidebars, and switches But also developers can bring the website two smartphones in the form of an application.

  • Faster and simpler data binding.
  • Modifications will be instantly displayed in the model
  • Minimizes burden from server CPUs by supporting caching and other processes.
  • Faster application prototyping.

4. Sencha Touch

By adding a variety of features, Sencha Touch lets customization exactly how users will interact with the application as per their wish.

Sencha Touch is one of the popular HTML based frameworks that Is used to create applications that work amazingly on all platforms without having to change the code for every operating system.

  • Provides a high-level responsiveness for applications.
  • It is compatible with all the latest versions of Android, iOS, and BlackBerry.
  • Loads the application as fast as possible.
  • Creating a native application would be easy.

5. Titanium

One of the old frameworks for hybrid mobile application development, Titanium Provides a simple and transparent access to most of the native functionalities.

Using web technologies like JavaScript and CSS, developers can seamlessly develop native applications along with hybrid and web apps.

  • Can easily develop applications compatible with Android, iOS, etc.
  • Functional entities let you create high-performance applications.
  • Build quick prototypes as it comes with an integrated environment.
  • Extremely cost-affordable open-source option
  • Simplified coding structure as it supports powerful web technologies.

6. Meteor

A free and open-source platform, Meteor is utilized for building modern mobile apps. Not only does this JavaScript framework let rapid prototyping and gives cross-platform code but also gives you the control over your application.

  • Lets you update JavaScript code without any development skills.
  • Gives mobile to server data communication and synchronization functions.
  • Known for Speed and quick deployment.
  • Eliminates bugs that most of the new applications seem to have.
  • Offers great flexibility across platforms and devices.
  • External libraries and several plugins can be utilized.

7. Ionic

Ionic is a commonly used open-source framework to build hybrid mobile applications. This framework provides useful tools and services which developers can utilize for creating native and progressive web application seamlessly. With Ionic, developers need fewer efforts and also can minimize maintenance expenses.

  • Code works across platforms and devices.
  • Single programming language for all operating systems.
  • Variety of Cordova plugins available.
  • Utilization of well-known web technologies.
  • Application testing is easier.

Read also : Java vs Kotlin: What is Better For Android App Development?

8. React Native

If you are a big fan of native mobile apps then obviously one of the few options you will be left with is React Native. As it is an Open source framework, react native app developers in reprocessing the same code on the web and mobile.

  • Developers can seamlessly copy half the code to build apps on other platforms.
  • With native components, users can get native app experience.
  • Revamping complete code is not required.
  • Developers can easily run the code everywhere by putting fewer efforts.

9. NativeScript

A creative hybrid application development framework, NativeScript is extremely useful in building native cross-platform applications with super performance.

In addition, NativeScript allows developers to reutilize skills from Angular, JavaScript, and TypeScript. Its holistic approach lets developers write once and run it everywhere.

  • Single code base and then develop it for Android or iOS.
  • Gives faster access to native libraries.
  • Team Native Script welcomes feature requests to enhance.
  • Developers can learn Native Script using JavaScript, XMS, and CSS.

10. Backbone JS

An old JavaScript mobile app framework, Backbone JS is highly lightweight and capable of handling current requests. It is extremely helpful when developing the one-page application.

Also, the developer can effortlessly keep an application logistics separated from user interface so that both can be easily modified and updated whenever needed.

  • Due to its lightweight, downloading speed would be faster
  • Framework includes loads and loads of small libraries which are suitable for specialized needs.
  • The models in Backbone JS can be simply tied to the back-end.

Read also : How much does it Cost to Create an App like Instagram?

11. Ember JS

Designed to develop complex hybrid mobile applications, Ember JS lets developers utilize future JavaScript standards and transpile them for utilization in browsers for later use. It is an excellent option for all the writing web applications.

  • Two-way binding method makes it easy
  • High-performance applications
  • It has its own debugging tool
  • Faster development with Ember CLI

Closing Thoughts:

Other than the above-mentioned frameworks, the mobile application development market is flooded with hundred other creative JavaScript frameworks and choosing the right JavaScript framework should be never about the number of innovative features it can provide.

Instead, it should be about the real functionalities of the framework and how those can be applied within the application. Now, all the best with your final choice.

Which is Better- A Mobile App or Mobile Website?

Planning to build a mobile presence for your company to reach a greater audience? Confused between choosing a mobile app development and mobile website development? Then, let me tell you something. For people who think there isn’t much difference between these two, actually, there’s a lot of difference. Here, we are talking about two connected and important different aspects of a company’s presence.

Today, in this post, we are not going to tell you which one is better. Instead, we will make you understand the huge difference between these two and the final decision will be yours as to which one you want for your business.

Before going further into this discussion, you should understand that these two elements serve slightly different purposes. Now, let’s get started.

What is the difference between a mobile app and mobile website?

Before you even start counting the advantages of one over the other, first let’s understand the important differences between a mobile app and mobile website. iOS and Android users (Includes smartphone and tablet users) can access both mobile apps and mobile websites.

Mobile websites are very much similar to normal websites which consist of browser-based HTML pages which are connected together and can be check with an internet connection. The basic and major difference between a normal website and a mobile website is that the latter one is developed especially for smartphone users. Increasingly, companies are now turning to responsive web designs as not only is a number of smartphone users greater than traditional desktop users but also they can scale to any sized device right from basic PC to all popular smartphones and tablets.

Just like any normal website, a mobile website too shows everything (Content, pictures, etc.) Users can also get to access certain mobile-specific features like click-to-call or even geographic based mappings.

Mobile apps, on the other side, are applications that are installed on our smartphones. Of course, there are apps which work on only online mode and offline mode such as games, image editing apps, etc. are built in such a way so that users do not have worry about having a good internet connection.

Which is better- A mobile app or mobile website?

Now the biggest question is that which is one is better. Honestly, that actually depends on your company/business goals. So you are the deciding factor here. Let’s say you are building a game then probably a mobile app would serve your purpose in a better way. But if your aim is to provide your users a smartphone-friendly content to a greater and broader audience then a mobile website would be the best option. However, in some scenarios, you may want to have both a mobile website and application but there are fewer people/companies who would want to develop an application without already having a mobile website for their business.

Nevertheless, if you have a specific goal which cannot be achieved through a website then you should consider building a mobile app first. Otherwise, a mobile website should serve your purpose of reaching to a greater audience.

Benefits of a Mobile Website vs Mobile App:

By the year 2019, India’s smartphones users number is predicted to reach 1.1 billion and China’s to 1.5 billion.

Benefits of a Mobile Website vs Mobile App:

If your goal is to increase customer base or even remotely close to public communication, then having a mobile website built first always makes sense in your mobile outreach approach. This is due to the fact that mobile website has more number of advantages/benefits over mobile apps. Let’s see how.

1) Compatibility

When compared to mobile applications, mobile websites are greatly compatible with almost all smart devices. No matter what kind of smartphone your customer is having, a mobile website just works fine on all smartphones.  Whereas a mobile app needs a different version (iOS and Android) to be built for each kind of device.

2) Upgradability

Without much effort and time, mobile websites can be seamlessly updated. They offer great flexibility when it comes to updating content. Whether it is color or design, all you need to do is just to click on the edit button and the changes are instantly updated. On the other hand, updating content in an application needs the updates pushed to the customers as well. And then should be installed so that the content can be updated for every type of device.

3) Reachability

More than mobile apps, mobile websites can deliver your get your message to a wider audience as they are accessible across platforms, search engines, and devices.

4) Shareability

Mobile websites can be shared easily. All users have to do is share the link within an email, SMS, or to even post on social media networking platforms. Businesses, with much ease, can direct their customers to a mobile website from a portal or even blog page. A mobile application cannot be shared in the same way.

5) Time and cost

Cost and time for developing a mobile website consume less as to a mobile app. Mobile websites, for sure, take less time and cost-effective than building an application and especially if you are trying to build a native mobile app.

Now, what about an app?

Despite the obvious advantages a mobile website has, applications are increasingly becoming companies’ choice and just like a mobile website, a mobile app has got its own benefits.

1. Gaming

For games, mobile apps engage and interact with users in the best way possible.

2. Frequent usage

If your targeted audiences use your mobile application on a frequent note then nothing does the job better than an app.

3. Works offline mode

If your app doesn’t need an internet connection to work or interact with your users then without any second thought you can go for it.

4. Native functionality 

Do you need to access your user’s camera, contacts, or anything related to their smartphone then an application will do a better job much more effectively.

At the end of the day, whether it is a mobile website or an app, everybody wants to get an optimal return on their investment. So the choice will be the one that costs less and gives you moderate ROI. Also, even if you are getting a mobile app done at a cheaper price, don’t make the most common mistake of making your app into the clone of your website. Your mobile app should solve a purpose. So choose features and functions that mirror the objective of your business.

Final thoughts

Of course, there is no doubt that the usage of a smartphone is only to increase, the common question “Mobile app vs. website” will remain as a question for companies who are seeking to build a mobile presence for their business. Nevertheless, if your business objective is marketing-driven or to deliver good content and build a wider mobile presence which can effortlessly maintain, and easily found on search engines then the mobile website would be the right solution for you.

On the other side, if your goal is to offer and enhance a better user experience which would be similar to a gaming app then a mobile application would be the logical choice. However, there is no such rule that says you can have either mobile app or mobile website.  So in the end, it’s all about requirements of your business and your users.

3D Sensing in Mobile Phones

Just like the users anticipated in 2017, the iPhone X has indeed received a great attention for its new 3D sensing technology. On the other hand, the vendors of Android mobile phones is also likely to follow the same footsteps of Apple, intending to increase the demand for vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), an important element of 3D sensing technology. Hence, VCSEL manufacturers will start laying the basic foundation in this domain.

What is 3D Sensing Technology?

In the recent IT developments, 3D sensing technology is one of the biggest achievements. Various electronic devices are now aiming to integrate this technology to the upward trajectory in its demand.

When it comes to mobile phones, and just as expected, 3D sensing technology is bringing a major transformation with its features and functionalities.

One of the most common instances of 3D sensing would be how it will be integrated into mobile phones via gesture recognition into the user interface.

Now this kind of addition will definitely result in customers being able to run their devices via touch motion and facial recognition.

Even though 3D sensing is most commonly used in smartphones and tablets, this innovative technology has various applications which include robots and drones.

In addition to that, 3D sensing is also utilized to let users have better connectivity between the real world and the artificial intelligence.

How does 3D Sensing Work?

Understanding how 3D sensing works is not as simple as it sounds as it is one of the most greater scientific achievements and also complex which left various people left perplexed. Nevertheless, this can be better explained when the 3D sensing is used in the most common things around us.

For instance, Nintendo gaming is entirely based on 3D technology where the player would be able to enjoy action games via mere gesture without having to tap keys on devices. Wondering how that is possible? Infra red light is the reason behind that.

The process that makes it easier is when an infra red light passes through and ocular component which will spread the light into a pre-organised way which is similar to the idea of prism light divergence.

By interacting with the infra red light, that device will get the required data across the room by identifying the things off of which the light had reflected.

This 3D sensing will enable players to control the automated home entertainment system which has the 3D technology without having to use remote control.

What’s ahead for 3d Sensing Technology?

Regardless of whether 3D detecting is just an overnight sensation or conceivably a future standard element in cell phones may well rely upon Android telephones. Market responses and accessibility of 3D detecting modules will be basic components for Android telephones in choosing whether to receive such innovation.

At this stage, the creator trusts that it is still yet too soon to choose if facial acknowledgement would turn into a standard element. On the off chance that clients don’t give positive criticism, it is improbable that the Android camp would stick to this same pattern.

Rather, they could center around upgrading unique finger impression acknowledgement innovation, (for example, under-show arrangements) keeping in mind the end goal to increase first-mover advantage.

Also, the utilizations of 3D detecting module are not constrained to confront acknowledgment just, and numerous conceivable outcomes stay to be investigated with such innovation.

Thus, 3D detecting and unique finger impression acknowledgment are not fundamentally unrelated, which could be helpful to the long haul advancement of 3D detecting.

Apart from iPhone X, the number of Android devices and mobile app development brands which are offering such 3D technology a very limited currently.

Also, there still some stuff technique dost in the process of assembling 3D sensing modules and even Apple also to considerable amount of time in the assembling process.

Therefore, it will take another good 2 to 5 years for Android brands to start producing devices that are capable of providing touch motion and facial recognition.

From Apple to Samsung to Sony, every single electronic Goliath of the world is consolidating 3D technology to their devices and other smart products to give the most one of a kind customer experience.

A popular 3D imaging sensor producing organization plans to dispatch 3D sensors that can infiltrate through the dividers. This element could be a major leap forward for home security frameworks as families would have the capacity to screen diverse rooms of the home from even a remote place.

11 Mistakes To Avoid While Hiring Mobile App Developers For Your App Project

The present day mobile apps are garnering a lot of importance when they are becoming the prime instruments to pep up the sales of your products and services. Mobile apps allow you to effectively market your offerings to your target audience; the basic necessity of a small or a large business.

Having said this, it is a common phenomenon to commit mistakes when you are hiring mobile app developers to support your app project.

For all those enterprises who are looking to hire a team of mobile app developers, here are some Don’ts that need to be kept in mind so that you can effortlessly complete your mobile app project.

1. By-Passing the Verification of Credentials

The first and most damaging mistake committed by enterprises while hiring a mobile app development team is to avoid the task of verifying its credentials. In order to get a clear picture of their past works, you should probe into the details concerning how many clients benefited from this team. You can also check out the number of apps the members developed.

2. A Prejudice for Local Mobile App Developers

Enterprises looking to offer their mobile apps to the world at large should avoid having a bias towards local mobile app developers. Not with standing the fact that local developers might seem very tempting because of their proximity, you should keep your options open for remote app developers as well. Blindly falling back on local mobile app developers can hence be damaging to your app which can be bettered by signing up with a team which is located thousands of miles away.

3. Avoiding A Technical Discussion with Developers

Another grave mistake that is committed by companies planning to launch their mobile apps is to sign the dotted line without making an effort to interview the developers. Only when you engage in a technical discussion with the mobile app development team will you be in a position to assess their strengths and weaknesses.

4. Haste Makes Waste

You must have not only heard this famous maxim that haste makes waste, but also experienced it in your real life. Enterprises big or small should be mindful of the fact that mobile app development is a complicated process. Effective apps can be developed when there is a coordination between a designer, a developer and a tester. It goes without saying that all these concerned people should be on the same page when it comes to what is expected from the mobile app.

5. Skewed Towards Costing

No doubt, costing is an important factor that demands a close look when teaming up with an external mobile app development company. However, you should not compromise on the skills of the team when it tempts you with a low development price. Hiring a good mobile app developer is hence a tricky decision that needs to be taken carefully, weighing the skills over the costing constraints.

A cheap app can never be the best. Hence, you should hire a mobile app developer who promises you an effective app that supports your business objective.

6. Lack of Experience in Your Niche

Another common blunder committed by businesses scouting for an external mobile app development team is to hire a team which has no prior experience in your industry. Developers who lack knowledge about your industry will fail to deliver an app that meets the needs of your target audience. Hence, it will be an intelligent move to hire a mobile app developer who is well-versed with the trends in your industry, supported by an extensive knowledge about what features click and what are redundant. Looking into these details will pay you off in more ways than you can imagine.

7. Unprepared For The Road Ahead

Most of the businesses wear blinders which restrict them to stay abreast with the changing needs of end users. Mobile app development calls for continuous updates along with big fixing. These are all the essential sections of the product life cycle that need to be followed at any cost. Any deviation from these rules will seal the future of your app. It is only when you operate with a sense of forethought that you will be able to plan ahead and ensure that your mobile app is prepared for the long haul.

8. Uninformed About Cross Platform Functionalities

Another pointer that should be kept in mind is to avoid all those development agencies that lack cross platform skills. Now is the age of mobile apps compatible with Android and iOS platforms. There will come a time when you need to churn out mobile apps that can be launched on platforms like Blackberry and Windows. In line with this evolving technological trend, it pays for you to sign up with a mobile app development team that ranks high with cross platform app development skills.

9. The Jack of All Trades V/s A Standalone Freelancer

By now, you have understood all the factors necessary to launch a successful mobile app. The development process calls for the individual skills of many professionals who are well-versed in their respective domains. In this regard, you should not be tempted to sign up with a standalone freelancer even if he demonstrates expertise in various technologies.

A development team which thrives with the intelligence of a business analyst, a UX designer, a front-end or UI Developer, a tester along with a strong maintenance team can become your best choice. Thus it makes sense to hire a professional team as against a freelancer who has extensive knowledge about multiple platforms.

10. Repeating the Same Blunders

Learning from a mistake is the stepping stone to progress. You must have made a wrong choice in the past with a bad selection of a mobile app development team. Now is the time to take the support of a professional team which offers you a satisfactory end product. Never should you repeat the same mistakes in teaming up with a team which does not guarantee you a solid mobile app.

11. Don’t Ignore the Striking Differences Between An Agency and a Mobile App Developer

A loud noise is made by big brands calling themselves as potential agencies to support your mobile app development activities. While they can be great agencies, you should base your choice on the value addition that they will provide to your end product. Introspect whether such agencies are the right choice. Choosing a mobile app development partner is indeed a tough task when you can be tempted to sign up with famous OEM brands.

Key Takeaways

Having learnt the complexities involved in churning out a mobile app, it pays to tread safe while choosing a mobile app development team. Look into all the above common mistakes that businesses make when they are just about to sign up with an app development team. Once you ponder over these blunders, you will be able to make the right choice about a professional team that guarantees you a solid app that continuously meets the changing needs of your target audience. To err is human and to learn from these mistakes pays you off big time through a mobile app that spells success to your business; in more ways than you can imagine.

What is Mixed Reality (MR) and How is it Different from AR and VR?

After experiencing the imaginative power of virtual world through mobile games, AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are getting more organized to offer streamlines solutions to various industries. As these technologies break the surface of traditional approach towards the way we experience physical world in surroundings, the era of new realities begin. VR has grown more mature since its inception to produce more real sensations while AR continues to virtual objects to real world environment.

But the future is turning to Mixed Reality (MR) that enables the best of virtual and augmented world. Through the convincing entanglement of AR and VR in MR, you can play virtual games with characters that can interact with your real-world environment. However, due to the puzzling amount of technologies hitting you hard, it is important to discriminate these different reality-based technologies. Let’s delve into the subject to learn more.

Introducing different realities at a glance

1) Real-world environment

The real world environment is the one in which we all live and exist and is usually understood as the natural or physical world. Most of the things you experience in natural environment are either tangible or perceptible. The creations of virtual environment is often inspired by the representations of real physical world in a new, more comprehensive or amusing format that involves people, landscapes, civilizations, and other integral aspects.

2) Mixed Reality (MR)

Mixed reality is composed of technological spectrum of multiple realities enhanced by independent technologies like VR and AR. Mixed reality can be best explained as virtual spaces in which real world environment or people are actively integrated into virtual environment to produce a unique space of visuals where both physical and digital objects seems to interact seamlessly in teal time.

Unlike VR, MR provides you with much controlled, fascinating experience that blends real and digital elements so that you can manipulate and interact with real and virtual objects or environments using powerful imaging and sensing technology.

3) Virtual reality

Virtual reality can be enabled as computer generated graphics, video, music to create vivid experience in your senses. VR can be an umbrella term for all virtual reality experiences that are not completely real. Being the most known technology, Virtual Reality can offer immersive, intuitive and tricky experience that makes you believe you are actually exploring a completely different world from the one you live in. It has HMD (Head Mounted Display) or headset tethered to the PC or console.

VR delivers deep level of immersion, a total escape into strange, impossible world that engages and stimulate all of users’ senses in a way that makes them forget the actual reality in their vicinity.

4) Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality, as the phrase suggests, augments the intensity of reality by overlaying the ready digital graphics in real-world elements to produce the experience where users can enjoy some aspects of virtual world right into their physical world. The most suitable example that embodies AR technology would be the most renowned mobile game Pokémon GO. The main principle around which the concept of AR revolves is the idea of keeping the real world in the centre while enhancing its appearance through supplements of digital details and new perceptions.

The differences that separate MR from VR and AR

Although sometimes reality technologies seem to appear similar, the real-time applications and potential of MR separate it from other technology-enabled realities.

  • Mixed reality contains hybrid configurations

Mixed reality is hybrid of multiple realities that encompass various creative configurations of augmented reality, real environment and augmented virtuality. Mixed reality is where users simultaneously explore real and virtual environments, navigating it without telling which is real and which is imaginary.

  • Mixed reality offers more immersive interactions

Mixed reality makes it possible for you to immerse yourself in the physical world while interacting with a virtual environment. As a result, mixed reality users tend to forget where they are even though they constantly remain in actual world.

  • Mixed reality creates more balanced environment

By combining the aspects of both AR and VR, mixed reality enables users to enjoy the balanced environment where users can have one hand in the virtual reality and can have it in the digital path  and the other in the digital imagery, ultimately transforming the way you interact, work and play games.

  • Mixed reality is not entirely virtual

Unlike virtual reality that drives exclusively virtual experience, MR creates unparalleled space where virtual objects are properly harnessed to augment the real world elements to a convincing extent. Hence, what you get eventually is not entirely virtual or completely real, still making users believe the spurious nature of digital interactions.

  • Mixed reality offers more intuitive manipulations

Because you can play and try so many options with mixed reality, users can engage in more variations of similar objects and better chance of intuitive manipulations. For instance, you can see objects in its varied sizes as you change your perspectives and distance from it.

Finally, how MR stands out as a versatile reality?

It is easy to get perplexed about understanding the role of mixed realities among other types of realities especially when it is the cohesion of intermingled technologies. However, the way MR works adds clarity to how MR functions differently. In mixed reality, your physical environment is scanned to generate a 3D map-like structure of your surroundings.

Due to MR technology, device gets smart enough to understand what goes where, and how to place the digital contents in realistic backgrounds. Thus, MR allows users to interact with mixed, digitally-powered realities using human gestures without losing touch with their physical environment, eventually emerging as a versatile reality technology.

Conclusion:

After maturations and increasing adoptions of virtual and augmented realities, the border between real world environment and virtual space has blurred and faded away, developing the new innovation called Mixed Reality. By offering breathtaking experience to users, MR technology continues to create unique environment where user experiences resemble the visuals exhibited in sci-fi movies. Since they are accessible to everyone, many companies show sincere interest and invest in developing MR-based solutions. MR still needs more attention and awareness. We hope to see more in the area of mixed realities in future.

15 Parse Alternatives For Mobile Apps

Parse which is an open source back-end service platform is also a part of the SDK, which enables developers to create all sorts of apps that run on Windows 8, Android, iOS etc. The company Parse.Inc was acquired by Facebook in 2013 and later in 2017, it was shut down along with all its running services.

The efficiency of Parse hosting server can be harnessed in 2 way: Parser server hosting, self-hosting. Out of this, the parse server hosting is preferred as it can host parse applications using the available migration alternatives. And using these services, developers can utilize the benefits of Parse & Parse server.

Here are the infographics that outline some of the reliable substitutes for parse which can be availed this year.

parse alternatives

Major Challenges To Multilingual Application Development

As businesses are globalized and expand beyond borders, their services are becoming widely available to people living in far located lands. Due to mobile apps that allow you to reach every corner of the world, businesses today can take advantage of unrestricted access and cater to consumers efficiently. One of the factors that have played barriers in business growth is language.

English, despite being a predominant language across the globe, is not known to everyone on Earth. This means your app is unable to target the audience with little knowledge about English, limiting the brand engagement and revenues. The best way to address this situation is to develop multilingual apps. However, this optimal solution involves a handful of challenges which we are about to illuminate in the following discussion.

Let’s first take a quick glance at what defines multilingual mobile apps.

Multilingual mobile apps

Multilingual mobile apps are built to satisfy the business need to work in more than one language. Such apps focus on localization of the app content that further empowers the businesses and helps cater to target market, deliver a personalized experience, acquire more customers and expand business growth.

As multilingual mobile apps contain information in relation to local geography of users, it establishes complete integrity, trust and clarity in expectations. Businesses cover vast strata of demographics with multilingual apps and reap more from their business development strategy, eventually securing higher ROI.

Major Challenges to Multilingual apps

The reason why big brands try to scale up with apps with multilingual approach is that these apps, along with engaging more customers with content in their own language, also overcome the limitations imposed by monolingual mobile apps.

Moreover, multilingual apps are focused on different languages based on target audience, localizing the entire app content to incorporate customer requirements. But this approach is not aligned with monolingual apps, imposing major challenges for developers and brands. Here are prominent challenges to multilingual application development:

1) Direct Language Translation:

The usual approach of directly translating one language to another is not much supported when it comes to deploying fully functional and influential multilingual apps. Business apps should go beyond just translating words and need to think of altering the values, etiquette, presentation, and in some cases interface elements and much more. Here ‘much more’ is often realized as delivering a superior user experience while also making the content appear intuitive and interactive.

Moreover, language translation in multilingual apps should also be seen as tailoring the content to both technical and cultural perspective. Computer linguistics allows two methods of converting native English apps into local-language app:

  • Machine translation &
  • Human translation

2) Limited Capability of Machine Translation:

Machine translation has software used as a core solution to translate speech/text from one language to another. Computer engineers have experimented with various software-enabled algorithms and pre-specified rules to achieve maximum precision and perfection in language translation at optimal speed.

Though machine translation saves time, money and sounds reliable and effective compared to a human translator, the problem with software-powered translation is that they can’t deliver the same expected results as human understanding because of lack of personalization and limited capability of software intelligence.

Ideally, machines can’t provide:

  • Expertise: As machine translation is predefined and formal, it can’t emphasize on the tone, flow, style, phrasing and nuance of native language. Only an excellence of human translation can influence users and make it look natural and original.
  • Flexibility: Only humans can have exceptional translation skills to understand technical aspects of subject-specific texts and eliminate possible confusion.
  • Creativity: Machines lack creativity and offers literal meanings of texts. Due to lack of human touch, machines fail to create the most lively, personalized or stylish expressions in native language.
  • Cultural relevance: Machines lack ability to sense changing cultural trends, rituals and traditions. Hence, you can’t expect it to make apt choice of words to better convey the expression.

3) Unfeasible Human Translation:

Human translation promotes the idea of interpreting text through human experts who are versed in targeted language. Human translation mechanism produces the output content that perfectly fits the expectations of the users and creates effortless flow of information. However, the concept may seem a little unfeasible mainly because:

  • Finding someone who is masterful in multiple languages is quite a challenge
  • This approach also consumes great amount of time, human endeavours and cost
  • Involving a professional translator boils down to paying hefty charges for translating every page even when the content is not lengthy
  • Plain language translation often ensue on account of direct, seemingly robotic human translation
  • This kind of solutions often miss out on exact understanding of specific nuance, metaphors and subtlety of original native language
  • Systematic, formal and stiff rules of machines lower the quality of translation and impoverish the contexts or result in uncertainty of sentences
  • Mismatch between conveyed meaning and absorbed information may spawn frustration in users

4) Timeframes and Geography:

This is one of the essential points to consider in multilingual application development. Because language interpretations have a lot to do with geographical boundaries and distances, developers need to ponder over several variations of the same content. The challenges in this particular event may include switching to different time zone, integrating local places and synchronizing with other cultural rituals that encircle respective target society. Eventually, what users experience in multilingual apps should be composed of local material instead of international essence.

5) Design-related Challenges:

An ideal app design swimmingly allows content to appear neat, clear and easily absorbable especially when the app is translated into different language than English. As translation and resultant text style also affect the layout of the interface, it is important to retain the original aesthetics and ensure that its look and feel still remains intuitive, engaging and easy-to-explore.

Multilingual mobile app development entails a range of changes and improvements on the original app content, one of which is its design architecture. To suit the needs of local users, it is mandatory to perform certain relevant changes to the user interface.

Solutions to alleviate Multilingual App Challenges:

1. Leave plenty of space:

It is advisable to refrain from using conventional practices of writing strings since other languages may require more space than plain English. Instead, you can prefer to employ ample space to adjust for unpredictable expansions and to avoid future errors and performance speed.

2.Make wise choices:

In Multilingual app development, it is important to choose the icons wisely to avoid any misinterpretations for people living in different regions.

3. Plan in advance:

Try not to delay mobile app localization to last minute setting before release. To achieve better product, schedule the testing and translation of the content long before the launch.

4. Testing:

Test the localization software as strictly as possible if you trust machine translation for multilingual app creation.

5. Proper usage of strings:

It is a best practice to manage your strings using Unicode/UTF-8 encoding. This approach saves extra time by saving on conversion steps, debugging and error correction.

6. Internationalization of software:

By internationalizing the multilingual software, you can make dates, numbers and figures, currencies, and other data appear in a convincing, familiar and convenient way to the users.

7. Full localization support:

The software you use for multilingual app development should better support the country code and the different variations of spelling, date formats, currencies and other elements of native countries.

Final remarks:

From the discussion, we can argue that multilingual app development might be a tough business. However, upon hitting success, the final product does drive rich benefits. By translating text and other conspicuous elements of an app, you can enhance your international reach and attract more users. App localization software not only makes your product more accessible but it also helps cross cultural and geographical boundaries to support the language of native users without changing anything about the natural flow of coding.

4 Amazing Stephen Hawking Apps Everyone Should Know About

Stephen Hawking(1942-2018), the most gifted and brilliant mind who travelled across time and space, a British Cosmologist and a great scientist known for his work on surviving and thriving with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & black holes for over half a century.

Known for his contribution to the field of quantum gravity and cosmology, he was one of the most recognizable & smartest scientist of his age who symbolised on the capability of a human being to rise above any physical disability in life. With his research on completely understanding the universe, his name also entered to the world of apps with the release of a few amazing mobile apps that reveals his life, quotes and discoveries.

Now, lets check out the 4 amazing and cool apps based on Stephen Hawking’s work & life:

1) Stephen Hawking’s Pocket Universe

With the app, Stephen Hawking’s Pocket Universe the complete beauty of the universe is explained. With its simple design patterns, easy navigational steps and clearly formatted illustrations, this mobile app explains everything one needs to know about the entire universe.

The design of the app is a re-imagining of Stephens Hawking famous book- ‘A Brief History of Time’ which sold over 11 million copies in 40 languages. With the creation of this app, the book as taken a visual & instructional design which has made it more interactive with the audience.

The app which costs around $4.99 is a remarkable work with the 6 astonishing topics from Stephen Hawking books. This app available for iPhone on the App Store and now is also compatible with the iPad.

Features:

  • Easy navigation
  • Beautiful design
  • Complex science theories explained in well formatted illustrations
  • Users can keep a track record of their progress in learning and share articles in social media
  • Topic included: Professor Hawking’s greatest contributions to Physics, Space Time, Black Holes, Big Bang, Expanding Universe, Elementary Particles and Light and Waves, Updates from his major scientific breakthroughs, Historical and anecdotal references.

2) Stephen Hawking’s Snapshots of the Universe

Stephen Hawking’s Snapshots of the Universe is a mobile app that explains the scientific principles that control the universe through simple and fun graphical experiments. Based on Stephen Hawkings discoveries and writings, this app seems to be useful for both adults and children to learn the basic theories that govern life in earth and also get knowledge about planets and stars.

Features:

  • User can play and learn using the experiments given in the Snapshots of the universe.
  • Scientific experiment included are interactive
  • Consists of deeper text section to help users understand the key theories of science
  • Selected experiments also include video for better visualization
  • The app which showcases the teachings of this great scientist is available in iPad.

3) Pocket Hawking

This is an interesting and must have app for any fan of Stephen Hawking. The most brilliant and famous quotes said by this theoretical physicist and professor is showcased in this iPad mobile app. In this app you can listen to his views about life, destiny, space, universe, time travel and other related subjects.

Features:

  • Portray quotes that show Professor Hawkings intelligence and wit
  • Quotes are mainly educational based and can be even shared with friends, family and colleagues
  • Uses recordings made on a voice synthesizer which resembles to Hawkings sound
  • Compatible with iPhone, iPad

4) Stephen Hawking’s Biography

  • This biography-based mobile application is educational, motivational and takes you through a journey with the life of the world’s most renowned scientist Stephen Hawking. In this app, you can find descriptions regarding his life, accomplishments, major discoveries, selected quotes and other valuable contributions.

Features:

  • Simple and easy to read
  • Composed all the interesting facts in one application
  • Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
  • Clear design, easy to use interface
  • Easy navigation

Final Words:

With his break through research about universe and his personality, Stephen Hawking the man who changed the way we see the universe is and forever an inspiration to millions of global audience. His insights shaped modern technology and tried to bring clarity to some of the most important ideas related to space time, gravity and recently even raised the potential threat of AI in future to humanity.

The above given apps will definitely help you to take a journey to explore the life of Stephen Hawking, his works on the origin and structure of universe and even know about some of his famous quotes.