11 Benefits of Using Firebase For an App Development Project

Developing a website or a mobile application could be an exhaustive process as it involves a lot of time and cost. Nevertheless, there are a lot of services, on the other hand, which are capable of assisting the development work in various ways. And one of them is through Firebase. This creative way takes away a major chunk of the burden from the developers’ shoulders.

Launched in the year 2012 April, Firebase is a framework that was anticipated to be a real-time database providing its APIs, letting users save and sync information across various customers. And this was the story when it first got launched. But when it was taken over by Google after 2 years, today, the same Firebase offers various functions that companies might find exceptionally valuable. To our surprise, Firebase has reached to 450, 000 plus developers currently from 110, 000 when it was taken over by Google in the year 2014.

Now, what is a Firebase exactly?

Firebase is a framework which helps in developing websites and web applications for companies across the globe with real-time database and that means when one user updates his or her record in the database, then that particular update would be projected to all users whether it is the website or a web application. This gives a basic and unified platform with rich features so that developers need not configure their server while using Firebase. The framework will take care of everything automatically.

There are a number of components which make working with Firebase excellent from a developer’s eye, which pertain to the core technology of the development. This will help to maintain the state of harmony between the developer and the customer by causing a minimal delay of work.

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Now let’s check out some of the top benefits of using Firebase

1. Hosting

Production-grade web content which helps the developers in effectively sending apps and static content to CDN ( content delivery network)  by just using one command. The process is extremely easy in Firebase as it consists Auto Provisioned SSL (Security Socket Layer) certificate ideas, Customized domain support, and Global CDN regardless developers are sending a single landing page or a complex web application. Hosting provides the best features and tools that are customized to build and manage static websites.

2. Authentication

Firebase authentication provides instant UI libraries, backend services, simple to utilize SDKs so that you can confirm customers over your app. It supports authentication utilizing username, email ids, or passwords. In addition, developers are allowed to let users sign in to their Firebase application either by utilizing FirebaseUI as a drop in authentication solution or by utilizing the Firebase Authentication SDK to manually incorporate sign-in techniques into the app.

3. Cloud Messaging

A cross-platform messaging solution, Firebase cloud messaging, allows users dependably send messages at literally no cost. You can let a customer know that a new message or another type of information is accessible for synchronization. Also, developers can send notifications to engage users and drive maintenance.

4. Test Lab

Used for testing the app on devices posted in a Google data center, this feature assists developers in finding issues with only happen on specific device configuration. Test Lab result consists of videos, images, logs, etc. that are available in your project in the Firebase console. In addition to that, this feature is capable of practicing your app constantly and will look for crashes even if you didn’t compose any test code for your app.

5. Notifications

Mobile app developers will get focused user notifications. This gives a choice for both developers and companies who are looking for an adaptable notification platform that needs basic coding work to start and a graphical console for sending messages.

6. Invites

Do you want to increase your users and compel them to download your application then word of mouth advertising stands out from the crowd?  With the help of this feature, Firebase can actually make it happen. You can easily send customized messages emails and invitations to all your prospective clients.

7. Crash Reporting

This feature will help in creating a detailed report of the error that is categorized into groups of comparative stack flow picked out by the seriousness of impact on users. Apart from that, you can get registered to custom events that will help in figuring out a crash before it even happens.

8. Real-time database

It is a cloud-hosted database. Information will be stored as JSON and can be synchronized continuously to every related customer. This is especially true when you develop cross-platform apps with Android, iOS, JavaScript SDKs, the major role of your client’s demand will be depending on the real-time database example and continuously getting updates with the latest data. By using the Firebase Real-time database feature, there will be no need to build your own database or API as the Framework will be able to manage all the parts which generally come along by creating a backend for applications. It provides a flexible and expression based rules language to describe how organized your data should be and when the data should be scrutinized from or created to.

9. Storage

This feature is developed for application developers who feel the necessity to store and serve user-curated content such as images and videos.  This feature provides safe document transfers and downloads for Firebase apps no matter how bad the network quality is. You can use it to save images, audios videos, and other user-curated content. Supported by Google cloud storage, Firebase storage is extremely cost- affordable.

10. Powerful Links

These powerful links will drastically change behavior to give the best user experience across various platforms such as social media networking platforms, emails, or any other promotions to improve user engagement, maintenance, and value to gain end to end insights Into all your development sources via analytics on the Firebase console.

11. App Indexing

By utilizing this feature,  you can easily get to index your App in Google search. For example, if your app is already downloaded on a user’s device And whenever he searches for similar content, it will live your application directly from the search page. And if users don’t have your app then it a download button pops up in search results page.

Almost all features can be can be utilized and implemented while using Firebase. However,  they have their own restrictions and trade-offs. For instance, unless your app is running over a unified database that is being edited by the various number of users at the same time and the updates are needed to be notified, the utilization of Firebase is not legitimized. As important review features and functions can be run by MySQL database.

Nevertheless, if you have a business app to be built, then Firebase is one of the best options. With effective and result-driven features, Firebase is all you need to launch your application.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Xamarin in Mobile App Development

An impressively crafted mobile app means constant revenue to a business and customer engagement. However, mobile app development comes across multiple development platforms and devices, which is apparently challenging. Xamarin mobile application development offers a thinkable cross-platform solution that works across multiple operating systems and devices.

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Ever since its launch, Xamarin is used as a robust cross-platform app development platform that helps build a single app for all device systems. Native apps often require duplicated codes for different platforms. However, Xamarin app development comes with both pros and cons. In this blog, we are going to explore both advantages and disadvantages of using Xamarin in mobile app development.

Advantages:

Fast app development cycle

The most phenomenal part about Xamarin app development platform is that it contains reusable code 90% of which can be recycled for the development of apps on various platforms. The coding is based on C# language and .Net libraries. Since developers can reuse great portion of original Xamarin codes for creating apps across different platforms, it becomes easy to reserve big slice of time and efforts for them to accelerate the pace of development cycle. Due to simplified code sharing across different OS, users have a shortened product development lifecycle.

Getting the best of C#

Being a general-purpose, type-friendly programming language for Windows platform, C# is a sophisticated resort when it comes to leveraging object-oriented coding. C# is a modern, more advanced and improved version of C++ which enables you to treat basic data as objects. Its type-safety feature means a lot to Xamarin mobile app development company as it allows them to circumvent possible type-specific errors and blunders. Developers would not have to involve boilerplate or verbose type annotations, which increases convenience while also avoiding flawed program.

RMAD for businesses

Xamarin mobile app development services hugely appeal to businesses that emphasize modern app development practices due to its RMAD (rapid mobile app development) capability. Xamarin’s cross-platform development has the added advantage over native apps of speeding up the process without compromising on cost. Agility and cost are two primary requirements for any business and Xamarin does it better. Xamarin UI development uses forms libraries to make the process rapid, simple and smooth. This proves that Xamarin is a business-friendly platform.

Native User experience and feel

Xamarin cross-platform app development tool (IDE) enables such C# coding that the result is a native look and feel of the mobile app. At the moment of app runtime, it converts UI components into platform-specific elements, resulting in native app-like experience. Users choose apps with native UI design and experience. Xamarin app development company enjoys the access to device-specific features and its ability to compete with native app technologies.

Shared app code

What makes Xamarin as a considerable choice for cross-platform app development is the luxury of sharing the app code across multiple mobile platforms and OS. This is why businesses prefer to hire Xamarin developer. The important UI logics like input validation, web service calls, database interactions, back-end API integrations are all coded with C#. This makes Xamarin a cross-platform app development tool with a unique edge.

API Integration flexibility

Xamarin mobile application development also stands out because of its utmost flexibility to use same APIs and UI controls as found in developing Android, iOS and Mac applications. It supports the development for respective platform-specific programming languages such as Java, Objective-C and Swift. Such binding capability allows users to install new features no sooner than they are introduced into device’s OS.

Riddance from Hardware Compatibility issues

Xamarin offers the use of a rage of plug-ins and supporting APIs for cross-platform app development, which means it is quite possible that you are going to enjoy native-level interaction with operating device hardware. This goes to indicate that you will have little hardware compatibility issues with Xamarin mobile app development services as such. While developing apps on Xamarin platform, any Xamarin app development company can bask in the fact that they are to build applications with commonly available device functionalities running seamlessly on assorted platforms. Moreover, Xamarin delivers freedom to link native libraries for crafting great apps with good-quality customizations.

Disadvantages

Inevitable software overheads

Despite the fact that Xamarin mobile application development saves time by creating a single app for all platforms, it also involves, on the other hand, code linkage and referencing between target OS environments of different devices in use and .Net frameworks. This implies that such efforts can add to time taken for initiation and downloads of the app.

Time-consuming nature of UI Development

Again, time gets crucial when it comes to UI development on Xamarin platform. Although Xamarin facilitates reusing maximum code across target device platforms, it is hard to create a portable version of core UI. This is why Xamarin app development experts are compelled to perform some portion of coding for independent platform, which demands time.

Issues of App file size

While being beneficial in many ways, Xamarin is also slightly accused of swallowing more time for additional job of adjusting app file size. This is mainly because the generous use of Xamarin’s core libraries and functionality burdens the app stores with unjustifiable app file size. The size margin in the store may range from 3MB to 15MB.

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Conclusive Remarks

According to enterprises and developers, Xamarin combines the best of both: native user experience and cross-platform operations. Albeit certain cons, Xamarin mobile app Development Company can still provide you with all the benefit of cross-platform mobile app project like code reuse, a flourishing community of Xamarin professionals and advanced technology of C#. This all-in-one solution platform enables you to build, test and monitor and deploy apps using just one tool. You can opt for Professional Xamarin mobile app development services provider after ensuring that pros of Xamarin outweigh its cons.

Need For Mobile Apps in Transportation & Logistics Companies

Smart devices have widely influenced the entire spectrum of enterprise companies, service industries, organizations as well as customers.

Due to latest innovative breakthroughs in mobile app development domain, transportation and logistics industry has become potential market for adopting robust custom mobile solutions.

From start to end point of delivery, customers are quick to integrate technology for tracking their shipments.

The main reason behind the fierce demand in transportation and logistics mobile app development is the ability to offer real-time information of goods, employee productivity, vehicle status and more during transportation.

Equipped with unique industry-specific custom features, logistics mobile apps can improve the supply chain management and process efficiency.

The following discussion in this blog explores more reasons why transportation and logistics companies need to implement mobile apps:

1) Sophistication of Processes

Transportation and logistics companies often associate themselves with partners whose goods and consignments are carried from manufacture point to the ultimate storage and delivery points.

The entire process needs to be conducted in a way that ensures smooth operations, timeliness of delivery and speedy performance.

Using mobile platform as a means of service management, companies in this industry can not only achieve substantial gains but also sophisticate their processes around much ease and convenience.

2) Warehouse management made easy

The most crucial area where transportation and logistics mobile app development touches is flawless operations and error-free system of handling goods in warehouse and yards.

With Mobile apps powered by latest business-specific features, warehouse managers can minimize the possibility of inaccuracies and errors that may happen due to manual efforts.

Mobile apps enable automatic process of logging the IDs of goods, storage locations and equipment through scanning them.

Hence, managers can find it easy to consider inventories and transactions entered via mobile app and sync the data to original database.

3) Post-delivery confirmation system

Due to bespoke nature of transportation and logistics mobile app development, the delivery of consignment becomes a complete hassle-free process.

All you need is to scan the goods’ IDs and enter the details like the time of delivery, location and item quantity.

Thus, heavy operations of monitoring incomings and outgoings are simplified by allowing delivery staff to update the information in the app with a few straight taps that send delivery alerts.

4) Dynamic tracking of cargo and productivity

With real-time tracking features of mobile apps, customers are enabled to track their shipment so accurately. This is because current generation of transportation and logistics mobile app development allows companies to track cargo vehicles dynamically.

While logistics business companies can track the movement of their field employees, they can use the same insight to improve customer service by giving precise GPS-based information of shipment status to customers.

This means that unlike earlier when logistics companies could only get post-delivery updates, with mobile apps in place they can make it possible to target individual package on meter-by-meter basis.

5) Shipment booking

Adding more unique, customer-oriented features means creating more patrons for your business. One of the star features is offering the facility of picking up the shipment from their home.

Logistics Mobile app can be used by clients who need an effective and fast way of booking shipment appointment and calling the company to pick the item from their destination.

6) The combined benefits of low-cost and efficiency

From the company’s end, transportation and logistics mobile app development can be a real saviour.

It not only helps receive the real-time data of goods volume and movement and inventories, but it also keeps manpower properly organized.

This means the app optimizes operational cost and efficiency – which is something businesses today would like to settle for.

7) Rapid and accurate decision making

As mobile app tools are able to capture and update real-time data instantly, businesses find it possible to improve their decision making about transportation process.

The insight generated in mobile apps eventually empower field employees in logistic companies to make quick, flawless judgment calls at the time of adversities and can avoid possible delays.

8) Smooth task management

Form company’s end, taking interest in transportation and logistics mobile app development can maximize their potential not only to assist customers but also to manage their own resources.

For instance, a feature-rich app can generate a balanced flow of information that helps monitor field employees’ time sheet, update their tasks and schedule their next-day deliveries.

To reduce transportation detour and cost, the app can show shortest routes to deliver the consignment faster.

9) Paperless automation of processes

Digitalizing an industry means most of the processes involved to manage business tasks will eliminate the need for papers and promote paperless ecosystem.

This is one of the major benefits transportation and logistics mobile app development offers. Freight and logistics apps have rich dashboard with dynamic features that ultimately automate existing processes, digital reports and order delivery confirmation and task scheduling, etc.

Thus, paperless automation saves time and ensures that all the information and updates are securely managed in a centralized system of app and shared with a closed loop.

10) Improved flexibility and retention

One of the sophisticated merits gained from digitalizing logistics operations is its ability to change the course of transportation routes and delivery schedules.

To customers and business owners, this is translated as control and much flexibility. As transportation and logistics mobile app development generates increased control of supply chains, logistics providers enjoy great space for building lasting partnership with their customers, resulting in better customer retention.

Having a dedicated mobile app with all-encompassing approach thus helps you connect with customers on another level, keeping them informed on real-time updates and custom recommendations.

11) Auxiliary operations

Apart from major benefits, there are several more operations where freight logistics mobile apps can contribute to satisfaction.

Some of them are compliance assurance, service standard improvement, ease of inspection, account verification, GPS integration and rout planning along with customer care services.

Conclusion

From above discussion, it is evident that digital solutions have swept deeply through transportation and logistics industry. Having a mobile app is an interactive, fast and easy-to-use way to enable tracking, automation and real-time management of logistics processes such as dispatch, inventory management, record storage, inspections and more.

Collaborating with a reputed transportation and logistics mobile app development company will help you unlock the mature potential of mobile technologies and attain efficiency, speed and stability in the business.

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.

11 Top Services to Create Android Apps Without Coding

Before, creating an app was a tedious task that takes months of time for professional coders and developers. But now, with the introduction of hybrid mobile app development its now possible for even non-developers to create Android mobile applications with easy to follow steps. As people tend to spend most of their time in mobile phones, its important to have a mobile app for anything and everything. Now as you have such services its possible for anyone to create visually stunning & feature-rich apps without any technical knowledge, with very less or no money and without even a single line of coding.

To make the work easier for you, in this info graphics, we have listed the 11 best and most powerful no-code Android app builder platforms that can help you reach your niche and goals. Take a look…

services to create android apps

React Native vs Xamarin – Which is Better?

As thousands of applications are launched on Google Play store and Apple app store, the demand for business-specific mobile application development is booming huge. Whether it is for iOS or Android platform, the ultimate success of your mobile app depends on the cross-platform technology in use and the development standards to be maintained.

Though Java, Objective-C and Swift were used to write applications in past, the new cross-platform development tools that are making enormous buzz are React Native and Xamarin.

Recently, the question of react native vs xamarin performance has come to interest people active in mobile app development arena. These frameworks not only stimulated the era of highly engaging and performance-oriented mobile apps, but they also transforms coding phenomenon, simplifies development cycle and emerges cost effective for modern businesses.

So who is superior to the other? In the below section of xamarin vs native, we are embarking on finding the answer and will discuss how to make an informed decision.

Xamarin at a Glance

Xamarin was launched in May 2011 and was acquired later by Microsoft. Xamarin was intended for addressing the prevalent issue of disconnected technology to facilitate the native app development using its open source platform.

The framework uses C# language that functions seamlessly across multitude of platforms (Android, iOS, and Windows). Due to its ability to write native UI codebase for mobile app development, more than 1.4 million developers were using Xamarin in the first quarter of the year 2017.

Used by many popular brands, this cross platform app development framework offers competitiveness in building exceptional native app interfaces that effectively surpasses the limitations of hybrid apps.

React Native at a Glance

Introduced by Facebook in 2015, React Native stands out as a cross platform app development technology due to the fact that it uses JavaScript to develop a native mobile app.

The annual survey by Stack Overflow confirms that JavaScript is one of the most illustrious technologies mainly because it involves steel learning curve for developers.

Xamarin vs React Native 2018: Which One Feels Better and When?

When it comes to making a candid, unbiased comparison between React Native and Xamarin cross-platform native app development frameworks, both seems to surpass each other in many situations. Here is what you need to know about their working standard before you can pick the one.

1) Cross-Platform Development Environment

While discussing xamarin vs native, one can easily discover how Xamarin cross platform provides immense flexibility in terms of development environment.

Once can build and compile a code for different platforms with Xamarin unlike React Native that does not offer similar support unless via Expo. However, Expo may not be as powerful since it also has limited support capability.

2) Code Deployment

Xamarin developers will need to opt for compilation to generate an executable file to be tested later on emulator or a device. This process takes good amount of time depending on how complex the project is.

React Native on the other hand enables you to save the code and see results instantly using “hot module replacement”.

Read Also: React Native App Development Company in UK

3) The Question of Choices

Being a JavaScript expert, you will find it easy to get started with building native apps with React Native.

On the other hand, if you are conversant with Microsoft-owned C# expertise, then Xamarin would be the most appropriate choice as you can build iOS and Android apps using C#.

4) Accessibility and Availability

React Native is fully open source framework, so you can use it for building applications for tablet, iOS and Android.

However, when thinking about Xamarin, you need to spend some amount since its free version offers limited resources and features especially for enterprise-grade app development.

5) React native vs Xamarin Performance

As far as React Native vs Xamarin performance goes, significant factors like GUI, 64-bit support and fast code execution matter most.

Xamarin emerges more beneficial for the fact that it allows developers to run the code fastest on both iOS and Android platforms.

It provides full range of support for 64-bit mode and enables rapid UI development because of direct access to native tools.

This factor is not much favourable for React Native as it does not support 64-bit mode on Android completely. Additionally, it gets worse for iOS where it appears to run code at dissatisfying speed.

6) Advanced Capabilities For Development

Xamarin vs React Native must include this critical factor that focuses on which among Xamarin and native offers advanced development capabilities.

Usually, this one goes in favour of React Native as it is JavaScript based and offers more features, making the process more convenient for mobile app developers.

Xamarin, on the other hand, enjoys the reputation of being a legacy or classic tool that does not contain as many snazzy or evolved features in Android studio as carried by JavaScript framework.

Some of them might be automatic restarting, cold swapping code, instant updates, etc.

7) Testing Capabilities

Though you can perform UI testing on both platforms, it is easier for Xamarin developers to do unit testing in Xunit and debug in Xcode Simulator for iOS.

However, with React Native you are compelled to debug in the Android Emulator where issues are likely to occur.

8) Brand Users

React Native has brand users such as Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, Walmart, Skype whereas Xamarin is used by big names such as Slack, Siemens, Honeywell.

Who Wins the Battle?

Even after exploring all the pros and cons of React Native and Xamarin, it is not easy to conclude that one s better than the other. Developers can decide it based on how accustomed they are with a specific framework.

The Xamarin vs React Native battle is subject to certain aspects of development, maintenance, code sharing and testing, and developer’s personal experience and preferences.

But developers who is familiar with .NET and C# may choose xamarin cross-platform app development. It is after all a matter of opinion as the entire community of developers are split between both frameworks.

Hence, the ultimate choice comes down to what framework a developer is quite comfortable with. No matter what you decide, the native-like look and feel, performance, quality and usability of the end product must come into focus when telling which one wins the battle for you.

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.

Tips To Use Firebase Security Rules To Build Incredible Web Apps

Firebase Security Rules control the access that users of your web apps have to read and write your database. The real-time database rules help determine who can use how much data, the structure of your data and how indexes work. Once defined properly, these rules remain active on Firebase servers and are applied automatically all the time. Users’ request to read and write will be fulfilled only if your rules consider it fair and allowable.

Firebase rules recognize authenticated users and allow them full access to your database by default. This sensible approach keeps at bay undesirable access and protects your database from being abused. You can always customize your rules around authentication, though. However, it is not always easy to set up Firebase security rules to protect database. Let’s learn more about all the necessary tips to use Firebase rules for web apps.

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Introduction to Firebase security

Firebase real-time security is comprised of handy tools for web app developers to manage the overall security for the app. With Firebase authentication and validation tools running on server, it becomes easy to:

  • Authenticate users
  • Limit their access to database
  • Define permissions
  • Validate inputs/functions

The quintessential aspect of Firebase-powered apps is that it handles more client-side code unlike other available technology stack in the market. This ensures that your approach to secure your app is unique and deep with strong protective layers within.

The Central Components of Security Rules

There are three major components to Firebase Security rules:

  • User identification
  • Data Access Control
  • Input Validation (to create, read, update & delete Operations)

Once you know user’s identity through Firebase rules, you are allowed to automatically set restrictions for what action they can perform to the database (such as reading, updating or deleting).

The Firebase authentication process involves two options:

1. Firebase UI Auth: This option along with a few good code lines can help establish a complete sign-in system in your app for Web, iOS and Android. It will ask for user email, password, Google+, Facebook, GitHub, etc.

2. Firebase SDK Authentication: This one allows complete freedom to manage authentication based on your choice. You can also opt for Facebook and Google Sign in as Valid Identity providers.

The successful sign-in gives you access to user’s basic profile which is useful while controlling user’s access to stored data.

Firebase Database Rules

The security of Firebase is attributed to powerful JSON-formatted security language. Due to its great flexibility, you can easily access and define rules in Firebase Console using Database->Rules tab.

Firebase Security Rules structure contains syntax like JavaScript and is divided in four types:

.read: Defines when and if users are allowed to read data.

.write: Determines if and when users can write data.

.validate: It defines a value in a correct format and its child attributes and data type.

.indexOn: Specifies a child to index to support ordering and querying.

Firebase Authentication Process

Identifying your users is a basic and the first step when it comes to securing your app. As all users have unique story and profile, their data and capabilities vary from person to person. In chat apps, users are allowed to create messages and delete them if they wish. Deleting messages sent by other users is impossible, though.

Through firebase authentication, users can sign in to your app. It involves popularly used authentication practices with inherent support for Google, Twitter or Facebook along with email login, anonymous log-in, etc.

Authorization

After identifying users, the next step is to limit and control their access to your database. Firebase authentication and Database Rules can be applied to perform data restrictions in several scenarios such as:

  • Strictly authenticated users can access(read) data
  • Authenticated users are allowed to only write to his own node
  • No one can create a new node except users

Built in variables and functions present in the Firebase security rules allow to refer to other paths, authentication information and server-side timestamps. Using similar format of rule that includes user ID obtained from Firebase authentication, you can also grant write access for authenticated users as well.

Data validation Phase

Owing to seamless nature of Firebase database rules, you can easily tweak and apply changes during development process. However, data should remain consistent once your app is finally ready. The validate rule of Firebase is to bring in validation logic with the same expression as used for .read and .write rules. However, validation rules do not cascade and have to be true for .write to come to effect.

Just like .read and .write rules, you can use the same built-in variables and functions to create Validation rules that know all data locations in your database.

Using Predefined Variables

Firebase has certain predefined variables you can find handy to define security rules that restrict, usher, read, write and validate. A few of them are:

auth: Functions as token payload of authenticated users

root : A node that represents the root path in the Firebase database before the attempted operation.

newData : Contains data that exists after the attempted operation

Data : Contains the data that existed before the attempted operation

now:The current time in milliseconds

$ variables:A wildcard path used to represent ids and dynamic child keys.

Defining database indexes

The Firebase Database security makes it possible to order and query data. Indexes are declared with .indexOn rule.

The data of small sizes do not require indexes during development because of ad hoc querying. However, before the app is launched, it is important to specify indexes for your queries so that it will still work when the app is scaled up.

Conclusion:

This blog was our attempt to show how Firebase Database and security appears and works for mobile app and web developers while creating incredible web apps. Hope you will learn a few tips you may need for your next mobile or web app development project. You can always find more details about how to set up and define different security rules for user authentication, authorization and validation by reviewing Firebase Security Rules. If you are trying to build a highly secure, functional and user-friendly app, you can seek collaborative assistance from our company.

How Geolocation Mobile Apps Help Businesses Plan Their Marketing Strategy

Currently, every company/business is creating its own mobile-friendly websites and applications via efficient mobile app development companies to provide better customer experience and similar functionalities to a traditional desktop website. However, if your smartphone experiences are restricted to features available on your conventional desktop website then you are certainly missing out a lot of opportunities to deliver great content in context.

Understanding Geolocation Marketing:

Geolocation marketing completely focuses on customers’ needs and requirements via their mobile devices. Learning your customers’ location will help you in serving them relevant offers, deals, and discounts, and promotions and let them take a specific action. Not just one or two, geolocation marketing industry is likely to grow to $32 billion by 2021.

A greater part of world’s population consider their smart phones as an essential tool and as a result, this sort of marketing has indeed proven to be so effective and efficient. A company’s goal is to target potential customers and influence their buying behavior depending on where their mobile phone tells where they are.

Why is Geolocation Marketing so special?

1) It’s completely cost-effective:

Every single time a company completes a page for their business on a geolocation service, they are getting free advertising. Not just that, even next level forms of these marketing such as offers are extremely cost-effective when compared to various conventional strategies.

2) KYC (Know Your Customers) better:

While most of the geolocation marketing offers are made to attract new customers, these services are also an excellent strategy to identify and learn more about your current customers.

3) Reward your loyal customers:

It’s an old marketing saying “It’s better to keep the current customer than trying to attract a new customer.” Identify who your loyal customers are and reward them with special discounts and offers.

4)Attract new potential customers:

Geolocation marketing services are one of the best and effective ways to turn online prospects into new customers. Customers who never before heard or knew about you will have better chances to try your products and services for the first time.

There are some businesses who offer attractive offers to their first-time customers. Once you get to try them then it is in your hands how you retain them by providing the best solutions to their problems.

Well, the capability for smart phones to track and identify a customer’s location in real-time with a scalable level of accuracy is increasingly continuing to grow as cutting-edge technologies continue to transform the smart phone landscape.

Now, let’s take a look at how Geo-location matters in your marketing strategy:

1. As a forecast of characteristics:

From the past couple of decades, the location of a customer or even a business plays a vital part in the forecast/prediction of the characteristics of that specific person. Right from analyzing basic information from a collected household data or from anywhere else in the world, an in-depth landscape of the person or family of the demographic characteristics can be seamlessly built.

Now, this sort of family profile has proven to be very precise and correct in forecasting the characteristics of the make-up of those domains. The important element to keep in mind is that such demographic profiles are developed on the foundation of where they are based in (City or country). So once you figure where they are then you will be able to find out who they are.

In the whole process of this analysis and understanding of consumer behavior, finding out the geographic area can be extremely helpful in simply learning more about the customer than you did earlier. Such kind of information can be used to enhance the vendor/consumer touch point and improve the performance of the business for a mutual advantage.

2. Forecasting past, present, and future behavior

As an advancement from the forecast of other characteristics, analytics can also be utilized to forecast the future behavior of that particular geolocation family. Utilizing the methodologies or strategies created to forecast the character of an area, the behavioral prognosis can be developed to have an idea about the future likelihood of a domain to behave in a particular manner. Understanding the behavioral characteristics and predictions have been extremely used by location experts for better customer experiences.

3. Timing and mechanics of the buyer decision

Geolocation plays an essential part in the timing and mechanics of the buyers’ decision. For instance, environment patterns determine at what level buying becomes possible. Apart from this, there are mechanics of the buying decision that can be affected by location; extremely urbanized locations witness great levels of delivery services utilized.

In today’s modernized era, understanding a customer’s needs and preferences to respond to a particular channel such as email is vital. geolocation plays an essential part in not only forecasting the consumer behavior but also in finding out the most practical means of using sources to fit a customer’s needs depending on where they reside.

Now that we have understood the importance of the geolocation in planning a marketing strategy, let’s know the various ways how businesses can use geolocation data to plan the perfect marketing strategy.

Geolocation Marketing

Lately, beacon technology has been letting businesses exactly locate where their potential customer is at any given time, and then send them appropriate notifications regarding their latest discounts, offers, and other promotional stuff. The utility of beacon technology is one more step ahead in transforming the shift to m-commerce (Mobile commerce) by offering instant relevancy and value to consumers.

For instance, an apparel retailer might send promotional offers to a customer who is near their store or even when that person is visiting their rival’s store. According to a study by beacon platform swirl, more than 60 percent of customers tend to do more shopping at stores that have beacon marketing programs.

Micro-moment Marketing

Of course, you already might have heard the term “Micro-moments.” As Google rightly said, smartphones have forever transformed the way we live, and it also has changed the expectations of customers from the brands. It made the way to the consumers’ journey into the hundreds of real-time, intent-oriented micro-moments. Every attribute is a golden chance for businesses to shape their decisions and preferences.

Google’s research says:

— More than 80 percent of mobile phone users prefer their smartphones to influence a buying decision while in a shop.

— 60 percent of mobile phone users are more likely to take an immediate step towards resolving a problem as they have a mobile phone.

— Almost 50 percent of customers who do a local search on their mobile phones go personally and visit a store the same day, and almost 18 percent of those local searches end in purchasing within a day.

Geo-targeted mobile ads

Geo-targeted ad services from Google and MSN let brand advertisers assign search campaign holdings at a local stage. With geo-targeting choices that are available currently, customers can be targeted at area level (Country, city, state, etc.) to find out the best potential ad placements. In addition to that, Google AdWords innovated a geo-targeting attribute: Revenue location targeting. This will allow advertisers to target customers depending on their revenue level zip code.

A better technology that determines true customers and not just their devices

Increasing the effectiveness and influence of mobile marketing practices by using geo-location data to develop more customized marketing for customers. As the usage of the smartphone is greatly increasing than ever before, now is the right time for retailers to find out true customers by their smartphone. Currently, retailers have so much access to various cutting-edge tools and technologies to target right audience by market segments and devices.

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.