Whether you have a start-up or an established firm, mobile app becomes a necessity for all. Basically, making your mobile app attractive is one of the key elements that compels users to embrace it. So what all you need to consider while designing an app to get a good look and feel?
Right from the beginning you think of an app idea, be specific about your design and how you want your app to look like. As soon as the mock-up part of the app gets ready, allow the designing team to discuss with developers to understand the actual functions of the app, so that the designer will be able to focus on the elements that have needed to take the app beyond function and into an attractive form. Including features like attractive icons, unique title, informative image/videos, attractive animations, UI/UX interface etc. can make a simple app better and beautiful.
Mobile app design is quite challenging but can offer big deals to your brand if you do it in the right way.
Curious to see how to make your app beautiful? Checkout this info graphic and learn more about the tips to follow:
iOS is a well-known operating system developed by Apple Incorporation to run exclusively on Apple hardware products that include iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Initially, the idea behind developing this OS was to make it compatible to run applications on small screens of the phones. Soon, it began to draw a wider picture and began to come up with its own applications.
Similar to any other mobile operating system, iPhone also offers a wide variety of apps to be used by the user. While the programming languages used in the earlier app development were C and C++, these days the languages have been replaced with their advanced versions like Objective-C and Swift.
No doubt, programming languages play an important role in the development of useful and effective iOS applications; there are a number of other tools that can be used for this purpose. While the market is currently flooded with these tools, there are a certain few that are expected to rule the market in 2018. Some of these are as mentioned below:
1. Hotfix Native iOS Apps
This is one of the most exclusive tools available to develop iOS applications. Using this tool allows one to push code levels immediately to the native Objective-C apps. Allowing one an easy and direct access to the app methods and this tool also patches these by providing the app alert messages.
2. Qordoba
This allows one to localize, optimize as well as promote the app in international market. A local software development kit (SDK), Qordoba works with local files and assets. The tool’s main aim is to allow parsing which, in simple terms, mean establishing connectivity between the app and the related database.\
3. Charter
Provided by the Swift language, Charter is considered to be an excellent tool for iOS app development. Keeping up with the Swift programming language mailing list on iPhones or iPads, the tool allows its user to have both online and offline view as well as supports the message threading for the conversation.
4. Swift Express
A simple and powerful web application tool, this app is written in Swift programming language and contains a framework and simple routing mechanism. Using it enables one to easily manage the project dependencies as well as swiftly running the app.
5. Gitter
Built on GitHub, which is one of the largest software development platforms at a global level, Gitter is an open source instant messaging platform that allows one to use it for public and private chats. Used commonly by developers, this tool allows for rigid collaboration within organizations.
6. Crayons
This one is an interesting plug-in that makes working with colors in a project much interesting. Along with the predefined colors available, this tool also provides access to custom colors that are defined in the code. Apart from this, the tool also allows one to share color pallet in the file by writing the suitable methods as per the requirements.
Conclusion
Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are a number of other effective tools and platforms to develop iOS applications. Using these frameworks makes it easier to develop iOS applications as these provide an integrated environment for a smooth and easy development process.
The Google Play Store is a haven for a number of best android games. But the trick is to pick and choose the ones which are entertaining. Here, we shed light on 24 such captivating best android games that will attract the attention of Android phone users to play just for entertainment or to transform themselves into hardcore gamers.
Check out this long list of games that are worthy of installation on your Android-powered devices and also the most patronized ones in 2020.
True to its name, Table Tennis Touch is one of the top class ping pong games that is listed on Google Play Store. In spite of attracting a download fee of $2.99, you will be thrilled to notice simple controls along with a superior level of accuracy that will enable you to hit accurate shots.
You can demonstrate your mettle with the racket and ball swinging your wrist to powerful smash shots like side-spin, topspin and backspin.
Crashlands is a yet another addictive Android game that helps you knock out your enemies while you are busy building your base. Being an inhabitant of a dangerous planet, you will wage wars with your opponents only to escape back into space.
The ease which with the fighting system is designed enhances the excitement of the game.
The fun element is kept alive through a collection of inventory that helps you harvest items while you are busy establishing your base camp.
If you are a gamer who is attracted to jokes, then this game which offers excitement draped in humor can become your top bet.
Although launched in 2014, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft has been captivating mobile gamers until 2018. Very similar to the games of Magic:
The Gathering and Pokemon, Hearthstone allows you to collect cards to help you build decks. Along with multi-player features, you will be in a position to seamlessly toggle between playing this game on your mobile or the PC.
Monument Valley 1 along with its latest 2nd addition are top hits with Android gamers. Offering a similar user interface with identical game mechanics and graphics, you can never get enough with these two mobile games.
Featuring a host of puzzles, you as a gamer will have to move from one level to another and complete a path using illusions. That completes the game.
Another popular Android game that will make waves in 2020 is Minecraft. Tagged as an entertaining game meant for gamers of different ages, all those gamers who have played it in the past will vouch for the pleasure Minecraft bestows on them.
The game allows you to become a part of a gigantic territory which prompts you to mine items, build them and do whatever you want. You also need to put up a brave front while fighting your opponents.
Eternium is another Android game that can be played offline after it is completely downloaded and installed. This is a mobile game free from all types of restrictions imposed in the form of parting with diamonds or coins.
You don’t have to sweat out with power gauges or to build your stamina. You simply play it to enjoy it. Supported by a huge artillery, you have the company of many characters (some of which you can create yourself).
Golf enthusiasts have lots to cheer for through the Golf Clash Android game. Here, winning and losing the game are linked to benefits and punishments.
If you win, you will gain coins and trophy points. In the event you lose, you will have to part with your pricey trophy points. Although Golf Clash does not come with a Tournament mode, you can expect the update soon.
Notwithstanding the fact that Realm Defense is a beginners’-friendly Android game, there are a number of advantages up its sleeve.
Not letting down the expectations of experienced tower defense gamers, Realm Defense does not fleece you off your money to proceed to the next level. The trick is to exercise patience and stay in the game till the last minute.
There is no gamer who hasn’t experienced the fun with Pokemon Go Android game. This game which made heads turn in 2016 is one of the strong contenders for popular Android games in 2018 as well.
Tagged as a game of Augmented Reality, Pokemon Go allows you to catch Pokemon while you are walking around in your own locality.
You can also head to the Pokestops; pit stops to replenish your gaming items. This game ranks high on its popularity for the simple reason that it comes up with frequent updates.
Check out the entertaining and addictive Android game called Sky Dancer; a game with a similar look and feel of Temple Run. However, you will be thrilled to play around with simple options and power-ups. The challenge posed by the game is to land perfectly on a 3D setting as you run.
In doing so, you need to tap the left and right sides of your gaming screen. These are your gaming controls that will enable you to perform actions like jumping or to move in a particular direction.
True to its name, Epic Skater is a captivating Android game that can help you demonstrate your skating skills. The aim of the game is to reach your destination as fast as you can, by accumulating points all along the way.
A kickflip, a grind and an Ollie are the instruments that will help you complete the game. You can use all these tools and tread different paths as you start completing one level after another.
Supported by a coin system that permits you to alter your appearance and the skate board you are using, you will be able to accumulate game boosts or bonus coins as you play.
Recognized as one of the best Android games in 2018, The Room is a collection of escape puzzle games. The game places you in a room full of strange objects which pose challenges to you. All you need to do is to solve these puzzles as your gate pass to leave the room.
There is another room waiting for you which is loaded with some more mysterious objects. You will again have to crack the puzzles so as to ultimately win the game.
13. Dead Trigger 2 – Zombies FPS Survival Shooter Game
It will not be an overstatement to quote that there is no dearth for excitement when it comes to playing Dead Trigger 2. You need to wage wars against zombies with a huge artillery.
These game missions present various types of enemies that can be attacked with different types of attacking skills. So, if you wish to demonstrate your attacking moves through blasts, you can download the Dead Trigger 2 game from the Play Store.
You will also stand to gain by learning new hacks that can counter the attacks of your enemies.
An ardent racer like you can make the most of the Riptide GP Series Android game. The premise behind this game is that you as a racer will lose your credibility after becoming a part of an unlawful street race. It is from here that you will struggle to reach the top.
Featuring a host of easy-to-use controls supported by superior graphics, this racing game presents a plethora of funny tricks while playing.
True to the tagline of the Implosion Android game, you will have umpteen opportunities to fight your enemies and demonstrate your grit; without losing hope.
Through a number of long shot and short-distanced fighting options, you will be in a strong position to fight strange enemies.
You can weaken your enemies by responsive and intuitive game controls along with a collection of dashing and shooting attacks.
Available for download by shelling down $5.99, the Rollercoaster Tycoon is a popular Android game of 2018 that allows you to design and build amusement parks. Every park should have a rollercoaster.
You need to put your efforts and establish shops in the entertainment zones which will bring a smile on the faces of fun-loving people who come to visit your park.
The aim of the game is to encourage your visitors to spend money on the fun-filled options that your parks offer.
Micro Machines is another Android game of 2018 that has racing enthusiasts enjoy the thrill of being at the wheel. You can choose a car while you pick a racing mode.
After making these two selections, you will become a part of an exhilarating race that presents opponents as if they are a part of the real world.
To zoom past the finish line of the car race, you have the support of pickups and weapons that can be accumulated en-route.
After the addiction time of Fornite, the latest Android mobile game seems to have taken off the mind of gamers, being one of the most popular battle royale mobile games available in the market now.
With a lot of gameplay tweaks, ‘Pub G’ feels to be more real to users in its mobile version & can be used in PC or Xbox as well.
In this game, a mercenary is dropped to an island where he/she needs to play with other players across the globe and search for supplies that are necessary for survival.
The main feature of this shooting game is that you can play it with your friends or family anytime, anywhere or even select your own teammates.
Other features include high-quality graphics, realistic weapons, voice chat for communication, etc.
Even though the game was made to bring in a new touch to the traditional brick making games, this highlights to be more user-centric and colourful from the users’ point of view.
In this game, the user needs to knock down as much as blocks possible and at the same time collect a number of crystals for upgrades or to get close to the surface.
Everyone loves to play Trivia games and this is one among them which is actually a live game-show app, may be much alike to jeopardy.
The only difference is that you need not to have a TV studio to get the action on the play. Users can watch and play right from their phone in real-time along with thousands of other players.
People who love the high-octane racing action need to check out the game Asphalt 9. The game is all about racing on some of the exotic cars worldwide by playing and collecting them.
Altogether this car racing game is a visual experience delivered with top racing action & high-end graphics.
If you are a person who loves adventures, then you must try this free to play an adventure game that showcases the story of Alto’s.
This seems to be a very interesting endless runner game that gets you dashing down the deserts, riding through the rock formations, exploring ancient ruins, etc.
With its gorgeous designs, soothing soundtracks and shifting colour palette, this game keep users wanting for more.
This is one of the first Harry Potter games to reach smartphones He has done it in a big way, having your own story in Hogwarts, where you can live your own adventure in the magical world.
Other features include choose your story, learn spells and fight duels with your opponents, explore unseen halls of Hogwarts Castle, learn powerful spells etc.
With so many games available for Android users, 2018 will be the perfect time to make the most of the excitement that these games have in store for you.
With most of the games promising regular updates, you as a gamer will always be at the receiving end of unparalleled excitement with every new version of the game.
So what are you waiting for? Pick up any one title that appeals to you and revel in the excitement of awesome games that will thrill you in more ways than you can imagine.
Hey, your so well performing Android phone is now obsolete. Because Google has just released its recent version of the mobile operating system and it’s called Android 9 Pie. Yep, you read that right. With super cool new features and functionalities, this new mobile operating system is already increasing the users’ excitement levels.
Of course, this is just a sort of preview of the new mobile operating system and we will definitely see more exciting features added to it in the future.
The new version the Android 9 Pie, or just Android 9 is now available in giant Pixel’s smartphone the Pixel and Pixel 2 devices which includes: Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.
Also the fact that the number of Android users are more, Android app development has always been in the trending list for companies across the globe.
And here is everything that you should know about Android Pie:
1. Enhanced Notifications:
Notifications are highly important to every smartphone user. Specifically, Google wants to improve the user experience at this point. This means that users will be able to perform more without even opening the full application.
Now for notifications, Android Pie will suggest smart replies, lets you attach images and stickers, and type your own replies. This is all possible because of the Google’s new “Messaging style” notification.
2. Navigation is Now Stepping into the Indoors:
No matter what city or country we live in, Google Maps is one of the most loved and used navigation applications so far and now in Android Pie, it is even far better. Wondering how? Well, so far this navigation map has been working only outside the doors such as route to restaurants, malls, etc.
But now it is about to change. This new feature in Android Pie includes additional support for “Wi-Fi round trip time” that leads to more particular positioning via Wi-Fi. In fact, this indoor positioning in public places like shopping malls is about to get more detail.
3. Powered by AI for Smarter and Adaptive Use:
So far, Google Assistant has been one of the essential parts of Android operating system. With the launch of Android Pie, AI is baked into your Android smartphone in a much better way to make it smarter, simpler, adaptive, approachable and it also has features to learn from users and totally adapts to you life to perform tasks.
4. Battery life:
Just like we anticipated, Google has been working to make the new version, Android Pie, a little more power efficient. It has rolled out with a new feature- ‘Adaptive Battery’ that tends to make Android phones more smarter and efficient. The main advantage of this feature is that it prioritizes the app that you use the most and uses less battery power for app you use less
5. Adaptive Brightness:
According to Google, current auto-brightness feature isn’t that good and so in the new version they have rolled out a more powerful way to calibrate the phone brightness based on learned behavior and environment.
6. App Actions:
With Android Pie, Google makes use of more prediction tools which thinks a step further to predict what you’ll do next. Its like Pie starts to read up your mind.
7. Improved security:
Android Pie brings several changes to normal security features. It consists of new privacy protection features like:
Google requests developers to use HTTPS connections in apps instead of HTTP
Back-up feature in Android Pie is now encrypted, so users must enter password, pattern, pin for restoring the device
Support standardized look, feel and placement of fingerprint authentication dialog
It has introduced a new option for power menu- Lockdown Mode
It also has new privacy settings to protect users from malicious activities from other sensors
8. Better Privacy:
Now Android Pie will limit the access to the user’s phone’s camera, microphone, and the other sensors. Whenever the application itself is idle then it won’t be able to access those features, making sure they cannot just creep on users without their permission.
9. Gesture Navigation:
With the introduction of Android Pie, now you have the option to ditch the old 3 button navigation of Android to the latest feature of gesture navigation. This feature isn’t turned on by default , once its turned on, the navigation change to a pill-shaped icon. And whenever required you can turn off the feature to the old mode.
10. Taking a Screenshot is now Simple:
Easier screenshots are now easy with Android Pie. You can still use the old version of the power + volume down button but now in the new version you just need to open the power window and tap on the screen shot icon. Yes, you head it right its that simple.
This also has an additional feature where you get a notification of the screenshot taken which has the option to ‘edit’ the screenshot.
11. Warning Sound for your Call:
This is another effective privacy addition that gives a warning sound whenever the user’s phone call is being recorded. The new operating system’s improvement is there for carriers to activate and a short music will be played every 15 seconds via a call that is being recorded.
However, this amazing feature has to be supported by the network and the point that is not still clear so far is that whether it will apply to the customer service calls which will be recorded for training reasons or the third party recording apps alone.
Other changes:
Other than the above-mentioned, there are other important changes that we will see in Android P such as HDR VP9 video, enhanced JobScheduler, etc. that must help all applications in general work in a little more effective way.
Lately, Google is also going to launch another feature called ‘App Slices’ which will display relevant information from your favorite apps when you need them. For example. if you type Uber in Google search, you’ll see a slice of the Uber app with prices for your ride so that the action becomes more quick and easy.
Users will get to experience some more new features in camera, audio and also graphics.
And its there in devices near you:
From now, Android Pie is live on Pixel phones and with plenty of new features, the latest flavor from Google looks so appealing.
Are you excited about to finally have the feature on your Android smartphone? It won’t take much time because soon it will roll out to other devices as well.
If you are looking to host your NextGen web app safely, Firebase from Google can put you at ease by providing fast, reliable and secure static hosting for your web app. Offering production-grade web content hosting, Google Firebase enables you to effortlessly deploy web apps and static web page content and connect to CDN (content-delivery network) with single command.
Furthermore, with all-in-one Firebase hosting solution, you are exempted from sizing up various available cloud based hosting service providers.
The prerequisite you need to do to get started with Firebase hosting is:
Install the latest version of nodejs
Secure an uninterrupted Data connection
Create a Google Firebase account
Here is the brief tutorial on Firebase hosting for you.
Features That Make Firebase a Reliable Choice:
Before opting for Google Firebase, you may wish to clear your doubts about whether or not it is a great choice. Hence, here are all the features of Firebase hosting from Google for you to learn.
1) Content security
Firebase hosting is served over a secure connection using modern web. It has a built-in SSL which requires no further configuration, ensuring that the content is always delivered with un-compromised security standard at any point of time.
2) Speedy content delivery
Since each file you upload is on SSDs as cached at CDN edges, you can be sure your web app content is delivered fast to users around the world.
3) Quick deployment
Firebase comes with CLI which deploys your app in a few seconds. Due to CLI, you can easily upload your files from local directory to hosting server and add deployment targets into your build process.
4) One-click roll backs
Any mistakes or error made during the hosting process is undoable as Firebase Hosting enables you to manage the full version and release with one-click rollbacks.
How Does it Work?
Built with the idea of modern web development, Firebase console makes deploying the simple landing page or scalable and complex web app quite simple. The successful hosting gives your app the feel-good features, defined infrastructure and incredible tools designed to manage static websites.
WithFirebase CLI, you are able to deploy files from local directory to hosting server that has SSL configuration on global CDN. The project is given a sub-domain of firebaseapp.com. Its lightweight configuration options enable you to build sophisticated progressive web apps. Developers can easily rewrite URLs or set-up custom headers.
When site is ready for production, you can connect your own domain name to Google Firebase Hosting and also get SSL certificate for enhanced content security.
Why to leverage Google Firebase hosting?
For business-grade apps, it is important to choose a robust, scalable, and flexible framework for web application development. Google’s Firebase promises the most integrated platform for dynamic mobile apps. Some of its pros are:
1. Competitive analytics
Google Firebase comes with a free analytics dashboard that has innovative qualities and capacity to report up to as many as 500 event types. Due to its ability to provide you with crystal clear insight for understanding user behaviour, it is easy to optimize your application for better performance, scalability and personalization. Some of the crucial features of Firebase analytics are:
Streamlined segmentation of users
Unlimited reporting
Integration with other essential services.
2. High-quality and interactive applications
With Firebase, developers can enjoy ample space to create unique, interactive and high-quality apps using its incredible features and functions. Some of the remarkable, innovative features of Google Firebase are:
Authentication
Crash reporting
Storage and data syncing
Remote configuring
Real-time database
Cloud messaging
Test Lab
With these features, you can store, sync, add and integrate important data in real-time, which in turn makes user experience even more gratifying.
3. App Marketing Feature: Invites
After developing your business-focused app, you can walk an extra mile to compel users to consider and install your app. Firebase contains a feature called ‘invites’ which enables word-of-mouth advertising. Invites empowers your marketing efforts such as sending personalized invitations messages and email to prospects and existing clients, thereby advertising your app.
4. Better User engagement
You definitely want your app to do well and impress users with its scalable features and secure usage. Some of the built-in features of Google Firebase that satisfy this purpose for you are:
App indexing
Dynamic Links
Integrating Adwords
Real-time Notifications
How to get started with Hosting?
With Firebase, app development process gets simple as your app’s static assets (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) can be easily deployed and hosted with Google Firebase over HTTPS and backed by a global CDN.
Step-1 Install the Firebase CLI
To install Firebase hosting, the CLI requires you to first install Node.js(version 5.10.0 or greater) and npm. To install them both, follow the instructions given on.
After getting Node.js and npm installed, you can go ahead and install the Firebase CLI via npm:
npm install -g firebase-tools
And then, you can re-run the above command in order to update to the latest version.
Step-2 Initialize your app
If you have your Firebase app ready to deploy, you can go inside the project directory to run the command:
$ firebase init
This action creates a firebase.json settings file in the root of your project directory.
Step-3 Add a file
After following step 2, upon initializing your app, you will be asked to use the directory as the public root by default. This is helpful when you don’t have a valid index.html file in your public root directory.
Step-4 Deploy your website
At this stage, you are able to deploy your website, which you can do by running:
$ firebase deploy
In the end, you will see your app deployed at the domain<YOUR-FIREBASE-APP>.firebaseapp.com
Step-5 Manage and rollback deploys
From the Hostingpanel in the Firebase Console you can see a full history of your deploys. To roll back to a previous deploy, hover over its entry in the list, click the overflow menu icon, then click “Rollback”.
Now your app is ready to share with the world! Next up, check out how to customize hosting behavior, connect a custom domain, or take a look at the full documentation for the Firebase CLI.
Conclusion:
With these many benefits and easy-to-install process, Google Firebase console incontrovertibly emerges as the most viable option especially for business apps. Equally appealing to start-ups and big brands, Firebase is a great choice for business app development. Everybody wants their business to grow exponentially, which is where Firebase framework can be leveraged to gain optimal results.
As the global market share of mobile app is increasing frequently, use of cross-platform mobile app development has been essential for businesses. When compared with native mobile app development, cross-platform development turns out to be more cost efficient and time saving.
In such a situation, Xamarin is incredibly the best platform or framework for developers to create mobile apps using a single code i.e. C# which can be shared in multiple platforms. With a powerful IDE, Xamarin helps developers to create a comprehensive environment for development, where if required the users can further integrate the app to Xamarin Studio or Microsoft Visual Studio. Other features of Xamarin like high compiled code, options to use the native UI across various platforms, Xamarin test suite, benefits of programming language C# also makes Xamarin an extensively preferred platform.
After checking out all the advantages of Xamarin, it becomes one of the best tool set that allows us to support multiple platforms with less or no amount of code change. Checkout this info graphic and learn about Xamarin a little more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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