Tag Archives: apps

Applications

8 Best Home Cleaning Apps for Android & iOS Everyone Must Try

What’s one way to make your home more pleasant while reducing the stress and headache of getting it done? Why not try one of the cleaning apps from this round-up The Cleaning Services Group developed to help singles, families and friends make an unpleasant task more manageable?!

Keeping your home clean makes a difference with everything from comfort and organization through to health and safety. 2020 has been defined as a year where we look at our environments very differently with an unprecedented global public health crisis leading many people to spend weeks and even months in lockdown inside their homes. Keeping our homes clean is more important than ever before yet it’s possibly even harder than in pre-coronavirus times.

Taking steps to prioritize, simplify and even enjoy cleaning is possible with the apps in this round-up. Still not sure? Well, ESparkBiz says there are many positive impacts to introducing cleaning apps into your routine. They said, “There is no doubt about the concept of on-demand house cleaning app[s] which has changed the whole perspective of digital innovation, by providing the users with a solution to the most common problem of their lives.” With proof of concept, it’s time to check out the full list of apps selected for their:

  • Ease-of-use
  • Overall ratings
  • User friendliness
  • Opt-in for extra users
  • Customizability

Spick & Span: The Ultimate Cleaning App Shortlist

 

1.   OurHome

This app is a gamified task system that will get every family involved in the chores. An organized interface means you can individually allocate responsibilities as well as assign To Do’s for today or tomorrow. It’s not just cleaning either — this is a comprehensive points system that covers everything you need to get done including exercise prioritization, taking the dog for a walk, and sorting the laundry.

Available for Android and Apple users.

2.   Done

Take your life beyond cleaning with this simple habit tracker that will improve more than just your dusty shelves! This colourful system creates tracking building blocks based on a motivational system that encourages progress and healthy routines all while letting you know when you’ve hit a streak and built a success chain.

Available for Apple users.

3.   Homey

Built upon principles of accountability and positive achievement with goals, this app is a great incentivizer for teaching kids about accountability. It’s also a great starting point for helping kids learn about money in the framework of motivation to meet targets like making their bed as well as understanding allowances.

Available for Android and Apple users.

4.   Unfilth Your Habitat

Make your cleaning about incremental completion so you can just get on with chores bit by bit rather than slog out marathon cleaning sessions. This app is definitely for users with a sense of humour who appreciate foul-mouthed prompts with a side of cleaning challenges to motivate you to get both gunk and germs gone!

Available for Android and Apple users.

5.   Tody

To help users keep up with home cleaning, this app works as a smart assistant so every resident can live comfortably without ever feeling guilty about getting behind on vacuuming, mopping and everything in between. Rather than battle overwhelm, Tody can be tailored to the user, is adaptable to your house size and uses a rating indicator system to track when you need to clean.

Available for Android and Apple users.

6.   Labour of Love

Couples and families are rewarded for getting through their chores and keeping their spaces pleasant in a collaborative way that uses appreciation to positively reinforce progress. The idea is to ‘marry’ users so that everyone feels valued for the tasks that are assigned to them as well as allowing them to log the errands they already complete in the day-to-day.

Available for Apple users.

7.   HomeRoutines

Reduce the monotony of repetitive tasks with this app that’s all about celebrating the

routine of mundane jobs with gold stars. As the name says, users can divide chores

between residents with frequency and time-related reminders serving as a catch-all

for a huge range of domestic life administration such as school drop-off, grocery

shopping and paying bills.

Available for Apple users.

8.   Clean My House

This intuitive app is built around supportive schedules you can custom-build for your family life including cleaning, errands and all of your important tasks. The personalization encourages all family members to get involved while reminders ensure nothing is missed and you can plan out an entire week without ever running out of milk, forgetting to pay a bill, or missing laundry day!

Available for Android users.

 

Read on for the full infographic that shares more details about each of the apps so you can make your life easier and mitigate any cranky moods around cleaning in your household all while making your surroundings more hygienic and pleasant whether you’re studying, learning or relaxing.

 

Home Cleaning Apps to Try in 2020 (Infographic)
Design, software

How Augmented Reality Is Being Used in Home Decor

Augmented reality or AR is growing at a compound annual growth of 24.4% and is predicted to be worth $950 million by the end of next year. This technology may seem futuristic, but in reality it’s being used in a variety of different markets. From construction to maintenance, AR is able to solve problems and make processes faster and easier. 

One unlikely candidate for this type of technology is the home decor and renovation sector. While a home remodel might not strike you as a space to integrate digital content with the real world, there are many innovative apps that are doing just that. 

Augmented reality apps allow you to do a variety of things, from see how furniture will look in your apartment to test out paint colors to measure the room and create a floorplan. These AR apps make the process quick, easy and attainable to anyone not just contractors and interior designers. 

 

How Do These AR Apps Work in Your Home?

Each app has a different set of directions based on its intent, but in general they can be figured out in a few steps. First you’ll be selecting the feature you want. This could be a new sink for the kitchen or a rug for the living room. Some apps allow you to choose specific products you can buy and others give you generic items to test out.

Once the product is chosen, you’ll scan the room with the camera on your phone. This will give the AR software an idea of the original space. Often times the app will direct you to scan the floor so it can gauge the depth of the room. 

When the room is scanned, you’ll be able to view how your feature looks in the home. You can adjust its size and position to how you would normally have it and see if it will fit in the space. 

animation of augmented reality in home decor

 

7 AR Apps You Can Try in Your Home

Not all AR apps are the same. They each have a different specialty. To help you decide which is best for your home, ApartmentGuide has a list of seven augmented reality apps for the home. 

Build.com

This is an app made for remodeling the home. It specializes in home appliances and allows you to experiment with different finishes and styles. 

magicplan

This AR app will help you measure how many square feet you have in your home. This is helpful when renovating or viewing a new home. It will create a floorplan so that you know exactly how much space you have to work with.

Graham & Brown

This company lets you visualize a new paint color or wallpaper on your wall without sampling it yourself. This app will also estimate how much wallpaper or paint you’ll need to complete the projects which save you money and time. 

ColorSnap

ColorSnap is perfect for those painting a room. It allows you to conceptualize a color palette and will also suggest complementary colors to try. 

DecorMatters

This app is made for redecorating your space. It allows you to view home furniture, decorations and art from popular stores like IKEA, Target, Overstock, WestElm, Crate&Barrel, Living Spaces and Ashley. 

roOomy

If you want to stage a room, roOomy allows you to create a custom design. This app is targeted towary homebuyers, renters and real estate agents.

Housecraft

This app allows you to see furniture in a space, but only provides generic furniture. This works well for people who don’t want to be pressured into purchasing anything right away. 

Applications, Mobile

8 Apps to Make Moving Abroad Easier

When you move to a new country, it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed by your ever-growing to-do list. This list includes a curated list of eight handy apps designed to help you learn the language, get around, stay safe and make friends in your new home.

Apps can be a great way to build up your language skills by helping you develop vocabulary, grammar and conversational abilities. Offering nearly 150 languages, Tandem is a great option for intermediate-level speakers who want to practice talking with native speakers in a judgement-free environment.

Mobile apps can be a real lifesaver when it comes to navigating around your new hometown. Handy alternatives to Google Maps include Waze and Moovit. If you intend to use public transport a lot, then Moovit: Public Transit is an absolute must-have as it uses real-time information to help you plan your bus, subway, rail or bike trip in many locations throughout the world.

In addition to knowing your way around, it’s also very important to know how to look out for yourself. Help yourself stay safe and alert by downloading a personal safety app. One of our favourites is TripWhistle which enables users to quickly contact local emergency service phone numbers anywhere in the world. 

For many expats, the most difficult part of moving abroad is making new friends. Fortunately, there are plenty of apps designed to connect you with people in your area. One of the most popular is Meetup, which allows you to form groups and plan fun outings with people in your area who share similar interests.

If you would like to learn more about the best apps for travelling and/or moving abroad, take a look at this super informative infographic guide from the team at Hansen & Company.

Read the infographic below to learn more.

 

Mobile

5 Ways Smartphones Have Made Driving Safer

The term “smartphone” has become a misnomer. Today, our so-called phones are basically small computers that we can keep in our pockets. While we used to only use them to communicate with one another, the current abilities of the modern smartphone now allow it to be used as a legitimate road safety device. Thanks to our phones’ GPS capabilities, Internet connectivity, software adaptability, and the fact that nearly everyone with access to a vehicle is likely to have a smartphone, engineers have come up with various ways to use them for improving driver safety.

Fostering Safe Road Culture

Smartphones are notorious for distracting drivers on the road. However, a company called Cambridge Mobile Telematics has recently released an app that turns this idea on its head. DriveWell is designed to monitor driver behavior by measuring abrupt acceleration, sharp cornering, speeding, hard braking, and even how often a driver is distracted by their phone. The free app uses all the data it collects to generate a safety score for each user, compiled on competition leader boards to determine which drivers are the safest. The highest scorers are awarded with car insurance discounts and in some cases, even cash prizes.

Dashboard Navigation

The popular app Waze is more than just a device for calculating and plotting driving routes. It also comes with live warnings about nearby road accidents, or any incidents and obstructions that may get in the way of safe driving. By giving its users a way to avoid dangers and inconveniences on the road, Waze is a massive step towards road safety and traffic efficiency.

NHTSA Smartphone Driving Mode Guidelines

Recognizing the unique role of smartphones in modern vehicles, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA recently launched road safety guidelines for smartphone manufacturers. The Guardian has the scoop on the details of the voluntary guidelines. If manufacturers are so inclined, they can choose to update their phones with a “driving mode” that enables road-based applications while blocking ones that may distract from driving, like messaging and video apps. This means that drivers who need to glance at their phone from time to time for navigation purposes, won’t be distracted by their phone’s other notifications and features.

ELD Mandate

The US heavy trucking industry now uses smartphones to improve road safety through the ELD Mandate. Through the combined efforts of the government and the private sector, ELDs or Electronic Logging Devices are now mandatory for every commercial heavy truck operating in the U.S. An overview provided by Verizon Connect details the various safety and efficiency features offered by ELDs. First, the devices track driver hours to prevent over-driving. Second, the included driver monitoring technology helps drivers improve their braking and acceleration, allowing heavy trucks to save on gas as well as be driven more safely on the nation’s highways. Third, ELDs also come with field service and management software that allows operators to better plan out routes and assign the right people for the right jobs. And it’s all done through government-approved Internet-enabled devices, including certain smartphone models that can handle the specialized ELD software.

Diagnostic and Anti-Theft Apps

The same technology in your smartphone that is used for navigation can also be applied to fighting car theft by providing a live update of the vehicle’s status. Combined with your car’s on-board diagnostics or OBD computer, the app called CarLock can connect your phone to your car, and tell you everything you need to know. This includes your car’s current location, whether or not it’s moving, its battery life, mileage, previous routes, and when the alarm is triggered. It can even allow parents to monitor whether their teen is driving recklessly.

These new features are proof that even though smartphones are notoriously unsafe on the road, there are many ways to modify their use and allow them to contribute to driver safety instead.

 

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This post was written by Louise Anderson

Applications

8 Great Home Improvement Apps to Help You Do it Yourself

Taking on a home improvement project whatever the size is exciting but it can also be daunting, require research and/or hard work to get it completed. Sometimes depending on the size of the work, you might have to engage the services of contractors so it’s more work to source reliable people for that. Research is where everything starts when it comes to the project so that’s your first step. The guys at Senator Windows have put together this infographic which outlines some useful apps that you can download to your phone or tablet which might help you along the way of your home improvement project. Check it out below!

 

Applications

The Impact of IoT on Mobile App Development

The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming ever more prevalent in day-to-day life, with countless new devices being interconnected every day. IoT is set to influence the manufacturing of hardware and software heavily, with mobile app developers among those who will probably need to amend existing practices to account for the growth of IoT.

This infographic from ERS IT Solutions predicts some of the ways in which IoT is likely to influence the development of mobile apps. We will probably see a lot more apps copying the premise of Hive, which allows users to control their home heating from their smartphone. Indeed, many new apps will be created with universal connectivity and adaptability at their core. Apps which cannot connect to smart objects could become obsolete.

Companies could soon seek specialist IoT app developers in favour of those who are adept across numerous platforms, so app developers could be left with little choice but to adapt and hone their skill sets. See what other ways IoT looks set to impact on app development in the infographic below.

Applications, Mobile

How Smartphones Changed In-Store Shopping

When online retail first became popular it was very much its own entity. Bricks and mortar retailers may have feared it but it was a separate thing. Back then, very few would ever have envisaged how big a role the internet would play in offline retail.

As this infographic from The CUBE outlines, more and more retail sales are being influenced by mobile devices. Many of you will likely be part of the 53% of retail sales that were influenced by a mobile device in 2016. You may have seen a product in a store and done a quick Google on your phone to find out a little more information. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will buy the product online and you may just want to get a little more information on the product before buying it in-store.

Therefore, retailers shouldn’t worry about the increasing use of mobile phones in-store. Their use can often help persuade a customer to buy a product in your store! Find out more information in the infographic.

Applications

11 Best Meal Planning and Nutrition Apps

 

We all go through periods of eating healthily but it’s so easy to fall into familiar traps. After a long day, the last thing you want to be doing is slaving over the stove or spending time thinking about what you’re going to cook for dinner. You will often just decide to grab something quick or get takeaway for convenience.

The aim of this infographic from Lakeshore Convention Centre is to make healthy eating a little bit easier with the use of apps. The apps plan meals for you, give advice on nutrition, and count calories throughout the day.

There is a great selection of apps available so it might be worth your while to download a few of them to see if they help you out. Most of them are free so you have nothing to lose (except the pounds!) Find out more about the apps in the infographic below.

 

Applications

Top Application Security Threats That Can Put You At a Higher Risk

 

Malware threats are on the rise, while phishing scams remain persistent — and effective — ways for cybercriminals to hack corporate systems. But the biggest risk to your organization? Applications.

Consider that more than 111 billion lines of new software code will be written this year, much of it used by Web-facing mobile and desktop apps. The result? A rapidly increasing attack surface that regularly produces new vulnerabilities. Add threats from existing, open-source code — a recent flaw in the Apache Struts 2 framework put companies around the world at risk of Java injection attacks — and it’s no wonder that 42 percent of mature DevOps organizations now perform app security analysis at every stage of the software cycle.

What does this mean for your company? With Web- and cloud-based apps quickly becoming the foundation of IT, it’s worth understanding the top applications security threats and learning how to counter them.

Test Case

While threats from outside actors make for sensational news stores and often top the list of corporate worry, app risks actually start closer to home. Why? Because many companies hold back when it comes to testing. Instead of giving dev teams time to fully break, fix and break apps again, software is rushed into production, putting it at risk of compromise. Bottom line? Hackers attack whatever, wherever, whenever. Timid testing isn’t enough.

Down and Out

Your apps are also at risk of DDoS and SQL injection attacks. When it comes to SQL, the problem stems from permissible commands: While the “SELECT” query is commonly used to make password and username database requests, many companies forget to block access to other SQL commands. The result? Sixty percent of Web apps are vulnerable. Lock down code and restrict permissions to reduce your risk.

DDoS, meanwhile, often feels like an attack that can’t be stopped, especially since attackers can now leverage IoT devices to deliver terabytes of traffic and quickly debilitate apps. It’s not hopeless, however — new tools can detect sudden access request spikes, shut down IP addresses and notify admins ASAP.

Scripts, Stocks and Sessions

Also on the top app threats radar are cross-site scripting (XSS) worries, stock API permissions and session hijacking. To cut off XSS, limit the type of Web scripts that can be loaded by specific apps. To combat stock APIs, use extra encryption and build in code delays to reduce the efficacy of automated hacking tools. Limiting session hijacking, meanwhile, demands the use of random session IDs that are always encrypted.

Last but not least are zero-day attacks. Limit your risk by leveraging more in-house code, building in extra security and, if necessary, pulling the app to fix critical issues.

App threats are on the rise. Reduce your risk by learning more about the top threats to your Web- and cloud-based applications, and taking steps to safeguard critical data.

 

 

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Author bio: Nori De Jesus is Global Director of Marketing at Column Information Security. De Jesus brings more than 20 years of experience as an advent marketer and business strategist working with software manufacturers and launching proprietary software solutions into the market. With expertise in BPM and case management B2B marketing, she focuses on innovation and making a difference by maintaining agility as the technology climate continues to shift. De Jesus is an evangelist in educating buyers through their technology-purchasing journey via content and research.

Applications, Social Media

WhatsApp on Mac or Windows: Another Milestone Achieved

WhatsApp is a free to use, cross-platform instant messaging application for the smartphones introduced in 2009 by former employees of Yahoo. It is used to make voice calls, sending text messages, video calls and sharing images, videos, audio files, voice notes, phone contacts, gif files and user location to other users by using the internet on your smartphone. You can either use it for personal chats or sharing media and apps with your loved ones, or it can also be used for business purposes.

 

Key features of WhatsApp:

  • Simple Messaging: You can chat or send messages for free to anyone in your contact list located anywhere in the world for free and avoid SMS charges.
  • Voice and Video calls: By using WhatsApp, you can make video calls to your family and friends for free even if they are located in other countries.
  • Share photos and videos: You can capture beautiful and memorable moments in your phone and share them with your loved ones instantly with the help of WhatsApp.
  • Group Chats: You can make various groups including your favorite people, maximum 50 people in one group to chat with them. This feature is very profitable for business as many people join different groups and share their products.
  • Secure Environment: WhatsApp uses end to end encryption, which makes it safe to chat and share stuff on WhatsApp because that message will stay between only you and the person you are talking to. Even WhatsApp can’t read or listen to your conversations.

WhatsApp now available for PC and Mac

For any business, handling it on the Mobile phone can be inconvenient at times, especially for the people who work on their computers at the same time as well. So, WhatsApp has launched a desktop version of WhatsApp for your Mac or Windows PC. So, Windows users should not get upset about the fact that they don’t have to use WhatsApp only on the small screen of their phones only, but now, they can use their Qwerty PC Keyboard and the big screen for using WhatsApp.

How to Download and Use WhatsApp on your Mac or Windows PC:

The Supported versions of WhatsApp on Pc are:

  • Windows 8 and Higher (32-bit version)
  • Windows 8 and Higher (64-bit version)
  • MAC OS X 10.9 and higher

There are few easy steps you need to follow to get WhatsApp working on your MAC or windows PC. Let us discuss them now:

  • Open https://www.whatsapp.com/download/ from your Pc webpage and download Desktop version of WhatsApp.
  • Install WhatsApp on your Pc once the download is finished.
  • Open WhatsApp so that you can scan the QR code from your phone to get both the devices connected.
  • Open WhatsApp in your phone and click on the settings icon under WhatsApp Web to scan the QR code on Desktop version.
  • Once both the devices are connected, you are good to use WhatsApp on your PC.

Users must keep in mind while using WhatsApp on their PC that your phone should always be on and connected to Wi-Fi as well.

WhatsApp has been the favorite of everyone for a while now, and the company is always trying to make its feature list and usability better to make it more loved by users. And, by launching the desktop version of it, the company has put another milestone in its long run. This Step will sure be going to keep WhatsApp as number one app and the most loved one for a long time now.

 

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Author Bio: Pankaj Jangir is a Website Designer and Developer. He makes websites from where users can download their own videos and photos from FB.

Applications

Native Vs Hybrid – Demystifying the Technology Dilemma

 

All businesses face a common dilemma while deciding on mobile app development: should they choose native apps or hybrid apps. If you too are undecided about your choice, here are tips to help you decide what suits your needs best- Native Mobile Application Development or Hybrid App development.  First, you need to understand the difference between the two types of apps, unravel the mystery that surrounds these two names.

The two principle technologies used for app development are the Android and the iOS. Both these systems work with the latest hand held devices that now dominate this world. The app you develop needs to work across all platforms to meet this shift in focus. Multi-platform apps development is challenging, and at the same time it brings opportunities to develop more and more creative and impressive products.

A native app is defined as smart phone or tablet application that is developed for specific and fixed operating systems.  Such native apps have numerous advantages. They are fast and refined apps that promise great performance.  This makes these apps very suited to permanent or long term functions such as games. Users find these native apps familiar and easy to use as they are accustomed to navigate similar apps. The ability these apps have of working along with other functionalities of on the device is an added advantage. These apps are readily accessible to a target audience. What is even more interesting and advantageous is that these apps do not depend on the internet to be accessed.

On the other hand, hybrid apps are those that built on the native apps or depend on them. They are not device specific and can be distributed across platforms very fast without the need to develop them separately for the two OS. These apps are developed using cross compatible technology and ride piggy back on native apps. This makes developing such apps fast and easy. However, you will need a developer familiar with web programming to develop a hybrid app.  The cost of developing hybrid apps is considerably lower since they are not built from scratch. It also requires a single language for coding it.

Now take a look at the limitations of native and hybrid apps. As far as native apps are concerned, the limitations include high cost and the need of various expert developers with specific skills to complete the task. As for hybrid apps, they cannot provide the ease of handling and familiarity that native apps provide users. This drawback impacts the number of users interested in using them. Hybrid apps lack some of the features available exclusively to native apps. Hybrids as fall short in efficiency and they have higher chance of rejection at app stores in case of mistakes.

Select native or hybrid apps depending on your requirements and future plans for your app. Native mobile application development is appropriate for future functionalities; hybrid for more basic apps.

 

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Author Bio: EliteMobApp.com is a USA based leading mobile app development company offering native and hybrid mobile applications at affordable rates.

 

Applications

Top Trends to Watch Out For in Mobile Application Development in 2017

 

ComScore report says that the number of mobile users surpassed the number of desktop users’ way back in 2014. Gartner predicts that by 2017, more than 268 billion downloads will generate $77 billion worth of revenue. The ever increasing numbers of smartphones all over the world has also led to a surge in the number of app that people download and use. Currently, Google Play houses over 2.2 million apps while the Apple Store has around 2 million apps .

As times change and technology evolves, mobile apps evolve too. Today, apps are not solely built for smartphones alone – wearables, connected homes, smart cars and other IoT enabled devices are also a part of the mix. 2017 presents a huge opportunity for businesses to develop innovative apps and see their business grow.

Here are some of the key mobile application development trends to look out for in 2017:

Location based services

Location based services (LBS) will continue to evolve as the facilities such as GPS becomes more and more available on all the mobile devices. There are a number of places where LBS can be implemented and put to good use, such as indoor mapping, location-specific payment portal, retail offers, security features, navigation, travel and tourism and more. The Beacon technology is also becoming increasingly popular in these cases.

Augmented reality integration

Integration of Augmented reality into utility apps will be another major development in 2017. Initially these kinds of apps were viewed as too gimmicky or promotional. But today, AR tools can be used to make apps more useful and productive. For example, recognition of words and phrases can be made use of in messenger apps. If someone sends a video etc. The actionable item should pop up automatically. Other options include social media syncing, location tracking, product links etc.

Android instant apps

The Instant Apps feature was recently announced by Google. It enables the Android apps run instantly. These apps need not be downloaded and then used. You can run them just with a single tap. The run as you need concept is certainly something to watch out for in 2017.

Embedded AI

To explain this, imagine, looking at a picture that changes dynamically as your mood changes. Enabling machine learning and AI into their apps is quite an interesting feature that app developers are looking forward to.

IoT app integrations

The IoT is rapidly seeping into our lives and more and more smart and connected devices are emerging every day. For developers, this involves the use of mobile platforms and enterprise backend infrastructures that can communicate and share data with a diverse set of devices The key here is data analysis and the data itself that must be stored and accessed efficiently.

Application security

Application security is another major factor that developers will work on in 2017. With the ever-increasing connected devices and the sensitivity of the data that is shared, security becomes a priority for mobile application development.

Above all, providing users with a superior user experience will always be the prime focus of mobile application development – always.

 

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Author Bio: EliteMobApp.com is a USA based leading Mobile application development company which offer all type of native, hybrid and cross platform mobile apps development.

Applications, General

Guide To Developing A Successful Mobile App For Your Business

 

It’s no surprise that every business, large or small is building mobile apps and looking to cash in big way. Developing mobile apps for your business puts you on common grounds for competing in the new mobile market place. All customers today look for products and services today via their cell phones. The idea to get your customers to notice your app and for that you need the right approach to mobile apps development. You need the right mobile strategy in place – from day one.

Mobile apps development

The very first step is to look for mobile app development services to create a mobile application. Finding the right developer could be tricky. Find a developer with the right skills and experience so that he understands the exact requirements. Check regularly and monitor the progress of your mobile application. Discuss your scope of work and also define the milestones for completion. Discuss your budget and chalk out the most important features and make sure that the app is thoroughly tested for functionality and user experience before it is launched.

App approval and submission

The next step is to prepare your app for submission to the major app stores and approval. For this purpose, make sure that you understand the app submission guidelines and policies. Both Apple and Android have a set of guidelines and checklists for app submission and approval. Take your time to review and understand their policies. Make sure that your app complies with the maximum size requirements and other criteria outlined by the app stores. Failure to comply with the app submission guidelines will result in unnecessary delays.

App store optimization

App stores have their own way of ranking the apps in the search results. The higher your app ranks in the app stores, the better are its chances for getting downloaded. Increased visibility directly translates to more traffic and greater downloads. Hence, optimizing your app is essential. Simple changes such as including your strongest keywords in the description and using the right images and icons can greatly help improve its visibility. It’s also important to use the keywords in the title. Make sure that the keywords you select are relevant for your target audience. Secondly, place a link from your website and take advantage of your customer’s natural affinity to your website and drive them to download your app too. Furthermore, include a download link for your mobile app on your website too.

There’s no denying that we live in a mobile world and at least 80% of our potential customers are looking for our businesses via mobile phones. Especially, if you are a small business, a mobile app or a mobile presence can give the initial boost to your business and help build a strong brand in the long term. With the right strategy in place for going mobile, you can easily capture the initial mobile customers and see a significant growth in your business in the initial phases.

 

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Author Bio: Elite Infoworld is a leading mobile application development company which offering android & iphone mobile application development services aא affordable rates.

Applications, Mobile

Mobile App Development Future with HTML5

 

In the past few years, the use of mobile devices increased drastically. The usage of smartphones and tablets became a trend among the worldwide users. According to the survey of a reputed marketing company, there are over 2 billion smart device users in the world. This increase is nearly 13% more than the last year. This is a clear indication that we are moving toward the increasingly mobile future without any doubt. With the immersive use of mobile devices, the need of seamlessly coded mobile applications also increased. And HTML5 is the best way to create mobile applications in the current technology world.

The HTML5 gives the app developers ability to work in a single code base to deploy the mobile application across different platforms like Android, Windows, iOS, Blackberry, OSX, and the web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

I have seen many developers getting frustrated while creating interactive content for the desktop and mobile devices. To satisfy the high industry demands, the shifting towards the use of HTML5 has become more essential than before. The future of mobile app development may well be in the hands of HTML5 with the consideration of the needed penetrating applications.

Why the need for a mobile app development?

By 2019, it is expected to reach the number of over 5 billion users of mobile devices which are currently of 4.61 billion. And since 2012 passed, the number of mobile devices is nearly matching with the number of users in the world. It means that it will be difficult to find an individual who is not using a mobile device and so, the need of mobile app development increased a lot.

This scenario makes more necessary for the mobile application developers to deliver more complex applications which work on different types of devices faster and better.

The use of mobile devices across the business enterprises opens the way for the app developers to create apps which work on desktop as well as on mobile devices.

These reasons and the features the HTML5 have, the use of it for the mobile app development is becoming high in popularity.

How HTML5 is beneficial?

Why only HTML or why HTML5 is preferable than other coding techniques? This question comes in the mind of a lot of people. The main reason of using HTML5 is, it is specifically designed to work across multiple and major platforms including mobile Operating Systems and web browsers. The mobile user can install the web application as an icon on any device screen if it is made using HTML5. This means if you are searching on the web through a mobile device and you find something that you want to store on the home screen of your device, then you can create an app icon which directs that web page.

html5-171876_640

Why application developers love HTML5?

As a survey made on over 3000 developers across ASIA, UK, and the USA, it is seen that more than 60% of developers are using HTML5 now for developing apps. And almost over 150 Fortune 500 companies has accepted HTML5. Comparing to other coding technologies to build the web or native apps, the HTML5 has a growth rate of 20% which is strongest among all.

HTML5 is loved across the worldwide developers due to its familiarity. It saves project development work and also decreases the overall cost of the app deployment.

Another strong reason is that the HTML5 has open standard support. It enables the application developers to design according to the need of the mobile devices, different platforms, operating systems, and form factors of the application. HTML5 allows them to deliver potentially rich content which does not rely on the Operating System or the device type. This makes it more loveable than native. Even the JavaScript programmers are shifting towards HTML5 these days.

Future of mobile app development with HTML5

Though it does not rely on the device type or OS, the HTML5 still be known as a desktop language in the future world of the mobile devices. For the mobile app developers, it is needed to run where the football is going, not where it has already been. HTML5 need to be more associated with the device hardware to make a true competition with the native application development.

But, as the business administrators, as well as normal users, are shifting towards the web browsers Mozilla and Google Chrome from the Internet Explorer which both have a full HTML5 support and the future is with the growth of Windows 10 usage and acceptance, the power of HTML5 is surely will be in full use for the business enterprises and other regular mobile device users.

 

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Author Bio: Mandip is a graduate in Information and Technology. He is a passionate blogger, SEO Specialist, and a Software Developer. He loves to write on technology, SEO, Internet Tips and Tricks. Currently he blogs at Best On Internet. You can also get in touch with him on Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter.

Applications, software

Best DIY Tools For Creating Apps

 

Creating a mobile app has never been easier. You don’t have to wait for months and spend a ton of cash on developers to have your app made just the way you wanted. This is especially important for those on a tight budget, as developers often charge by the hour and costs can pile up faster than you’d imagine. Fortunately, nowadays you can make a professional-looking app without actually having any coding experience yourself, thanks to various mobile app makers available online.

Now, you might be wondering what exactly are mobile app makers? To put it simply, they represent online platforms who offer development services for making mobile apps. What makes them special is the fact that they are designed to be used by individuals who have absolutely no prior coding experience. They are packed full with all the standard features a mobile app might need, such as:

  • Location-based services
  • Social network services
  • Push notifications
  • Specific seller-oriented features
  • Multiple paying options
  • Diverse templates
  • Rich customization options

What sets mobile app makers apart from the traditional app development practices is the cost efficiency. Most start-ups find it difficult to invest hundreds and even thousands of dollars into app development. This may even deter some entrepreneurs from making the experience mobile in the first place, which may save some money in the beginning, but ultimately, limit the business in the long run. This is why mobile app makers are an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. Although they could never replace seasoned developers, I tried to pick out the top six mobile app makers available at the time of writing this article.

1.      AppInstitute

AppInstitute has won quite a few startup awards and is currently the main mobile app maker in the United Kingdom. It’s the number one choice for local businesses due to its excellent e-commerce features, coupled with customizable menus, catalogs and an easy to use content manager. It also has rich booking options, which aren’t restricted only on managing appointments, but also provides the user with video events and other engaging content. The price varies depending on whether you’re looking for a monthly or a yearly subscription, with the starting package costing $8.00 per month, or $6.00 when billed annually.

appinstitute

2.      Como DIY

This app maker boosts its success with over 1 million apps powered by its platform and clients such as Coca-Cola, Burger King, and even BMW. Flashy names aside, this company provides a long list of features, including appointment scheduling, e-commerce integration, event planning and management, user reviews and even a loyalty card feature. That’s why Como is the preferred app maker of choice for restaurants, galleries, and other event-oriented establishments. There are seven available templates which can further be combined with six navigation styles. Payment plans only include a monthly, yearly or a bi-yearly subscriptions which cost $57, $48 and $41 respectfully.

como-diy

3.      GoodBarber

GoodBarber is a platform which offers the most advanced app making features available for both Android and IOS. Users can control every single detail of their app and for those who don’t, there are numerous templates available coupled with over 350 gorgeous icons and little over 600 different Google Fonts. What makes it unique is the instant visual feedback users experience when adjusting the parameters. Although it does not have an integrated online store, users do have the option of adding Shopify, Amazon or Etsy. The pricing starts at $16 for the standard package, $32 for the full and $48 for the advanced plan.

goodbarber

4.      ShoutEm

This app maker presents itself as a very refined and elegant product. It features a complete content managing system, resourceful tools for engagement and different monetization options. What makes ShoutEm great is the seamless integration with the existing sources such as Foursquare, WordPress, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and even Soundcloud. It also supports mobile advertising, which allows the user to regain some of the finances spent on ShoutEm. It’s not the cheapest provider available, with the price starting at $19.90 a month for the Basic plan. If you wish to publish directly to the Android or Apple stores, then you need to get the Advanced, $49.00 per month plan.

shoutem

5.      AppMachine

This easy-to-use platform aims to automate the building process by importing everything the app might use from sites such as Facebook and Twitter and even your RSS feeds. The creators had the idea to use the various aspects of the platform as it were made of Lego bricks, which directly translates into the app making experience. Using the drag-and-drop interface, users move and organize the features as building blocks. These include anything ranging from pictures, videos to online stores and links to social networks. Users have a complete control of the layout with customizable icons, colors, fonts and navigation paths. Currently, they are offering a $49 Plus and a $69 Pro plan. Fortunately, there are two bundles available, one at $99 per month and the other at $300.

appmachine

6.      Appery.io

The last contender on our list is Appery.io, a leading cloud-based platform for the fast development of mobile apps. The fact that it’s cloud-based means that nothing needs to be downloaded or installed in order to make the app. Not only that but most app makers which are focused only on iOS and Android devices, Appery.io users can also make apps for Windows Phones. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use even for the most inexperienced users. That said, Appery.io boasts a massive catalog of plugins available for both the inexperienced and advances users and it supports creating custom plugins and sharing them with the community. You can use the platform for free or pay $180 for the premium service.

appery

In Conclusion

As you can see, making a mobile app without any programming experience is possible. The platforms are all graphic in design, some using the drag-and-drop interface while the others use simple check-box type, on-off switches. Most of them are pretty straight-forward to use and if you have any issues, the app makers offer video and graphic tutorials and excellent customer support. You don’t need to worry about hiring expensive programmers in order to have a professional-looking app that reflects your business.

 

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john

By John Stone

Author bio: John Stone is a business consultant and web entrepreneur.  Through years of experience, he became a devout believer in the notion that form should always follow function and that developing the ability to think outside of the box is a prerequisite of being a successful entrepreneur. He currently advises companies about Web Design in Sydney. You can get in touch with him on Twitter.

 

General

How to Upgrade Your Smartphone Camera Using Apps

2 Comments

 

Nearly all of us take photos using our phone’s camera; those who don’t are likely pro photographers with separate professional DSLR cameras and some very bulky lenses. For the rest of us, taking a good picture depends on two factors: the quality of our phone and the right apps to fill in the blanks.

Buying a good phone isn’t the harder of the two things to figure out; most of the more expensive phones come with the better cameras. Assuming you’re at the second step, you’d probably like to know which apps to use so you can take awesome photos for your Instagram account or to keep to yourself.

Look no further; here are some great apps to make your photo dreams come true.

Android Users

taking-a-picture

Camera Zoom FX

Of all the photo apps available for Android, few come with higher recommendations from professionals and everyday users alike than Camera Zoom FX. With a host of features and a friendly interface, this app helps avoid common pitfalls that default apps frequently leave our cameras suffering with, including:

  • Reducing blur with image stabilization
  • Maximizing resolution with your phone’s megapixel count
  • Dozens of filters and frames for altering a photo’s mood

Moreover, Camera Zoom FX also hosts one of the simpler control schemes, complete with voice activation and full manual DSLR options to make your camera work overtime. The professional version only costs a few dollars, and it’s sure to be a purchase worth your while. In 2014, it was Lifehacker’s choice and remains the favorite of millions to date.

Open Camera

As a huge fan of open source software, I can’t recommend Open Camera enough because it truly has the best interests of its users in mind. With full support for Android’s Camera2 API, it hosts a variety of features that seem to be growing with every passing day. Its open source nature means that the only limits the app has are the ones you impose on it.

Like Camera Zoom FX, Open Camera allows you to adjust ISO, exposure time, and focus distance manually. It also allows for GPS tagging when you take a shot and comes with a considerably better price tag: free! The downside may be that it seems to have fewer effects, but as an open source app, that’s always something that can be added down the road.

PicSay Pro

Sometimes taking the picture isn’t enough. Having a good photo editing app can complete your photographic masterpiece, and you won’t find one much better than PicSay Pro on Android.

With most of the features that a desktop photo editor has, PicSay Pro allows you to fix issues with red eye, sharpen blurry shots, and apply numerous effects and edits to spice up otherwise dull images. The free version has quite a few options as well, but with the pro version you get a much more complete package.

iOS Users

take-photos-with-iphone

Camera+

Not only is Camera+ an old staple, it also continues to dominate much of the iPhone photo world because it really does work that well. Thanks to Camera+’s manual option, you’ll have considerably more control over how your photos turn out. Even if things don’t look so great at first, the post photo touchup tools are enough to bring any picture you take back to life.

For Apple Watch users, there’s also support for controlling your camera from a distance.

Manual

Users seeking a cleaner, yet more technical, camera app might consider using Manual, as it not only allows you to take total control of your shots, but it also allows you to look at past photos to see the settings you were using at the time. This can be especially useful as you learn to make your phone’s options work for you.

Notably, Manual remains one of the easier to use apps despite having unique technical options.

Snapseed

While it might seem a tad ironic that one of Apple’s best photo editing apps is published by Google, it doesn’t make Snapseed any less powerful. Snapseed is one of iOS’s most popular apps for good reason: It’s easy to use for beginners, yet has features that can be fully put to work by more professional photographers.

Its filters focus on classic, tasteful touchups rather than cheesy effects. As with any editor, it has all you’ll need to fix up color distortion, sharpness and the dreaded red eye.

Best of Both Worlds

Just because Android and iOS run on separate platforms doesn’t mean there aren’t apps that work for both. For those with more than one type of device, it’s nice to be able to transition using the same app on both platforms.

Instagram

Despite being predominantly a social media platform, Instagram has really made strides since its inception in 2010, both as a powerful source of influence in the fashion world and as a genuinely decent camera app.

While Instagram may not be quite as potent as some of the more focal camera apps, it still offers enough filters and effects to liven up your photos. More importantly, Instagram also makes the transition to sharing your works of art with the world that much quicker. If you haven’t tried using Instagram for photos, it’s worth a shot.

ProShot

As versatility goes, ProShot has quite a bit to offer. Not only is it available for iOS and Android, but it also works for Windows devices as well. Like the other services above, it has all the manual options available (ISO, etc.) but also an in-between setting for convenience and less advanced users, which they call “semi-manual.”

While not specifically for photography, I’m a big fan of ProShot’s video options, which support up to 4K quality and even have options for dealing with audio problems.

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

It should come as no surprise that Adobe continues to be one of the best photo editing apps out there. With loads of professional options, Lightroom is especially unique because it works together with Lightroom CC, another excellent tool to use if you bounce between your camera and your PC.

But don’t let the integration keep you from thinking the app itself isn’t feature rich; most of what you’ll find in Lightroom CC is in the mobile version, from gradient alterations to dehazing. The only real disadvantage is the cost, as Adobe runs this app on a subscription.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to improve your phone’s camera. Camera apps and photo editing apps are a great way to do it on the cheap, particularly if you’re not interested in buying a third-party lens.

Just don’t forget to protect your device. Particularly if you’re using your phone in an urban setting with tons of free WiFi, you should also consider a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your photos secure. Public WiFi is practically a nesting grounds for hackers waiting to steal valuable data, and your photos could be a prime target. Using a VPN ensures you won’t lose out on hard work by encrypting your internet connection and keeping criminals out.

Have thoughts about mobile photography? Tell us how you take great photos on your phone in the comments section.

 

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Author Bio: Cierra enjoys taking photos on her phone daily. Between playing with filters and settings, she also writes about internet security and how best to take care of your devices and accounts in an increasingly mobile world.

Applications, Real Estate

10 Apps to Help with Home Renovation

 

Thinking of doing some home renovation soon? Well check out this infographic from HalfPrice before you do. It contains some great apps that will make whatever home renovation you’re doing a little bit easier. Many of them are free as well so you can download them to see if they can help you.

We understand how much work is involved in a home renovation project and often the thought of a long project can put you off even beginning. Maybe you’re thinking of renovating a room but you’re not sure if it will look good when you’re done. Why not check out Houzz for some inspiration? You can look at other designs in peoples’ homes and maybe it will give you the inspiration you need to get going. We hope you find something useful in the infographic.

Applications

10 Disaster Apps That Could Save Your Life

 

As a society, we are becoming more and more dependent on our smartphones with each passing day. With millions of apps being created and downloaded every year, our app expectations have also increased.

Whether it’s a social media app or messaging app, these apps allow us to contact our friends and family more rapidly than ever before. Although most apps we download are for work or for fun, lifesaving apps are becoming progressively more popular.

With the vast amount of calamities that take place worldwide, from mass shootings to natural disasters, it’s important that fast and effective methods of communication technologies are developed. Luckily, in 2016, app developers are creating specialised apps to meet our needs.

Communication apps have improved both our personal and family safety. These inspired apps help us in the event of an emergency. Some can even track natural disasters before they occur. For example, ‘’Disaster Alert’’ – which was designed by the Pacific Disaster Centre – gives mobile access to multi-hazard monitoring of (and early warning for) active hazards worldwide.

‘’Life360’’ allows you and your chosen contacts to create a private network. In the event of an emergency, one tap of a button will notify your friends/family of your current location and inform them if you are safe. For all the details, let’s check out this infographic from Nature’s Water which outlines 10 of the top disaster apps. Let’s take a look!

 

Applications, Real Estate

10 Apps That Will Change The Way You Decorate

 

For most of us, revamping our homes is a laborious task that requires lots of hard work and money. Every element of your home has to be factored in – from paint colors to curtains. All of the demands a house revamp requires can be overwhelming. Fortunately for us, apps exist! There are apps for virtually everything, including home décor and DIY.

With app downloads projected to hit over 260 million in 2017, we are most definitely spoiled for choice! Whether need help choosing the best furniture for your space or simply looking for ideas, apps will help you design your dream home. With our busy lives it can be hard to find the time to source the best apps available on the app stores.

How do we know which ones are worth downloading and which are not? The people at Jarrimber have sourced ten of the best home décor apps that will guarantee interior excellence in your home! It includes Morpholio – which is an app that makes it easy to create mood/inspiration boards for your DIY project. It allows users to layout, collage and illustrate their mood boards with a series of photos, sketches and annotations. For this and more, let’s check out this infographic!

Have you downloaded any of these apps? How did it go? Tell us about it in the comment section below!

Applications, Mobile

10 Essential Sailing Apps You Should Download Right Away

 

Preparation is essential for any pursuit in life, but especially one like sailing where there is a large element of risk if things go wrong. Before taking to open waters, you need to be well trained in operating a boat and you need to have acquired a sizeable amount of knowledge so that you’ll know what to do, or at least be able to use a calculated judgement, if a challenging situation arises.

In fact, even the most experienced of sailors still crave every bit of information and guidance that they can access, which is why they are likely to have a large chunk of their smartphone memory taken up by sailing-related apps. Their catalogue of apps is likely to contain some that help with navigation, some that provide live information on tides, some that are great for tutorials and some that are essential for reference. The Boater’s Pocket Reference, in particular, is one app that should be on the smartphone of any sailing enthusiast, regardless of whether they’re never sailed before or have first-hand experience of all of the world’s seas.

This infographic from East Fremantle Yacht Club profiles 10 apps that are sure to be of enormous benefit to any sailor. Check out the full list below…you might just spot one or two that aren’t in your collection!

Applications

Best Mobile Business Productivity Apps For People On The Go

 

Heard of Expensify? It is one of the best apps for quick expense reports with more than 2.5 million users around the world. Looking for mobile email that works on any device, for any email account? Try Outlook for Mobile. Acompli, the developers of the app sold it to Microsoft for $200 million, such was the demand for the app.

Need an app that will keep all of your sensitive information safe? Use 1Password where everything in your app vault is protected by a master password that only you know. Are you in the market for an app that will make meetings so much more streamlined? GoToMeeting is the top choice for when everyone involved cannot physically be in a meeting room together.

Are you a team leader or a department head? Need to keep on top of what your team are doing to report back to the ‘higher-ups’? Keep everything on deadline and easily accessible with Trello, the app that works best for delegating team work and keeping your projects running smoothly.

For a more detailed look and visual illustration of these apps, see the infographic below which has been created by the Brighton School of Business and Management.

General, Marketing

SMS, Apps or Email? Customer Engagement Strategies Analysed [Infographic]

 

For marketing to be considered effective, it needs to prompt action from its targeted audience to enough of a degree that the brand ultimately recoups more in revenue than what it spent to initiate the campaign. Marketers need to communicate the right message in the right format at the right time, or else consumers will simply ignore the message. It also needs to be done through the most appropriate channel of communication, whether that is via an app, email marketing or SMS.

When making this decision, marketers must consider a series of factors. Do they want to communicate a lengthy or succinct message? Do they need instant reaction from their targeted customer base? What is the main demographic being targeted? If the campaign needs a swift response, the brevity and immediacy of SMS makes this an ideal option. Indeed, research shows that the general populace is far more likely to respond to a text message than an email, as people’s normal behaviour with the medium is to reply immediately.

This infographic from Neon SMS in Ireland analyses the three main marketing communication channels, picking out the main pros and cons of each one. Selecting the most appropriate medium for your campaign could prove to be the difference between enormous success and expensive failure.

Applications

10 Great And Absolutely Free Home Security Apps [Infographic]

 

We all want our homes to be protected as much as possible from would-be burglars and vandals, and many of us will try to deter such nefarious activity by installing CCTV cameras on our property. But what happens when we leave home for a prolonged while, maybe to go on holidays, for example? We can’t watch over our property then, can we?

Now we can, thanks to the abundance of home security apps that are available for your smartphone or tablet. There are numerous apps that you can download for this purpose, and many of these home security apps will cost you nothing to install. Did you ever think that you would be able to keep an eye on your home from thousands of miles away, simply by looking at a personal handheld device? It might seem like something out of a thriller movie, but now it has become reality, and a welcome reality at that, too.

This infographic from JMC Technologies identifies 10 home security apps that meet with the approval of a security expert and are free to download. Why live in fear when, in the space of a few minutes, you can install a series of apps that will enable you to watch out for your property at anytime from anywhere. It’s a no-brainer, really.

Applications, Mobile

8 Free Apps Every Event Planner Needs

 

From social media to emails, photography to seating details, when it comes to event planning, there is a lot to manage! Even the smallest of details require a lot of your time and thought and because of this, a lot of the time, tiny details can go unnoticed. Lucky for us event planners, there are now hundreds of thousands of apps available that are designed to make planning any event easier and less stressful. Though there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, these apps will help you manage your workload with more efficiency.

Team BAWE have gathered eight of the most excellent event planning apps and created the infographic below detailing all of their features. In the event planning business, time is always of the essence. Which apps are worth your time and which apps are not? Customer reviews are helpful on Google Play and IOS online stores, but with so much choice, how do we know which ones are the best for our needs? The apps listed below are the top in their class and a must for any event planner or organizer. Let’s have a look!

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Applications, Mobile

Best Apps for Students – Infographic

 

Studying and revising can be a chore. Working towards achieving a qualification is the focus for many and it can be difficult to stay focussed. Keeping on top of assignments and study is challenging and it certainly requires an element of determination, concentration and perseverance.

It is important to find what works best for you in terms of study. Some people find they work best alone in a quiet room while others need to work in groups. Sometimes it’s healthy to get a mix of both. Studying in groups can be useful if for example, you are struggling on some aspect of a course and require some guidance from others. They can learn from you as you discuss the topic and you expand your knowledge and understanding of the subject.

In order to keep stress at bay when studying, it’s important to eat a balanced diet. Try not to fall into the trap of eating easy to prepare junk food because your body will need all the nutrients in order to ensure your study is good. Being organised in all aspects of your student life is really important and will stand to you in the long run. Panic studying never works well so try to plan out your study times well in advance of exams or final assignments.

Make good use of your lecturers and tutors and ask for their assistance if you are finding a particular subject difficult. Expressing interest will show your enthusiasm and dedication and they will admire this and will be willing to offer your help for those tough areas.

This infographic from Study Medicine Europe is a handy guide for students of apps that they can download to their phone or tablet that will assist in making their studying and revision work more efficient. Check it out below.

The-Ultimate-Student-App-Guide

Applications, Mobile

The Ultimate App Guide For Carpenters And Handymen

 

In 2016, there is an app for everything. Increasingly, apps are becoming more important in industry, in particular the construction industry. There are so many to choose from. Having a full range of tools is key for all carpenters. Luckily as technology expands, there are more and more ways that apps can help you with your job. In fact, IOS and Google Play app downloads topped over 260 billion over the past year. With your smartphone or tablet, carpenters now have a huge range of tools ready for you to use at the tap of your finger. As a result of the massive increases in app developments, consumer reviews are crucial – how else will we know which apps work and which don’t? The below infographic from Jarrimber shows us all the best apps that are available to carpenters that we should be downloading right now.

Have you tried any of these apps? Let us know below!

The-Ultimate-App-Guide-for-Carpenters-Infographic

General, Mobile, Phones

The Future is Now – Phone Tracking Technology

 

A couple years back, the best way to track a mobile device was through the usage of phone towers. Truly, phone companies can without much of a stretch find the area of a phone device by decoding information longs got after the target make calls. Beside this, the organizations can likewise track the area of a phone when the cell phone remains on and continues sending radio signs. In any case, when the phone device is off, it is near difficult tracking it.

Cell phone tracking has turned into an ordinary event. In any case, everybody who uses a mobile phone is being or can be tracked. Numerous late studies uncover disturbing proposals about how mobile phone behavior is being used, not to just track individuals but rather keep an eye on regular life.

We all actually need the most recent technology in telephones. Cell phones, every Android phone including the iPhone, incorporate incalculable measures of applications and uses, from playing music, watching movies, taking photos, playing games and more. However when you buy a cell phone, you are outfitting yourself with presumably one of the most complex tracking devices around.

Today, phone tracker software is no more a thing that amazes individuals. Everybody, in this very moment, knows about the way that cell phones can be tracked. To let you know reality, whether you like it or aversion it, everybody who possesses a cell phone is being spied and tracked. As per various studies directed recently, more individuals tend to keep an eye on somebody. As such, they attempt to track their area notwithstanding their online exercises without their authorization.

Regardless of what mobile device you claim, it is fit for sending and accepting radio signs at whatever point you make calls, send text messages or surf the web. Presently, envision that your phone is armed with a satellite GPS tracking device too. Practically all most recent phone devices accompany GPS phone tracking component. Every day, many people get caught on account of the GPS in their devices.

Another disturbing truth is that, researchers have contrived an approach to track human behavior in points of interest, in a trial crossing maybe over two years. The researchers claim to foresee future conduct of individuals through cell phones. Clearly, mobile devices organizations are presently foreseeing if a client is going to change to another service supplier through this innovation.

The researchers were not just ready to distinguish general changes in the changes of individuals, there were additionally fit for deciding data as to the wellbeing of the mobile device client before he could even thought about it himself. This gives us a thought of what the eventual future of phone tracking will resemble. And this will happen with the assistance of the helpful device you can put in your pocket and convey wherever you need to. Give us a chance to figure out what specialists need to say in regards to it.

As indicated by specialists, as innovation gains progress, cell phone tracking innovation with likewise keep on creating. This innovation is helping us from multiple points of view:

  • It is offering folks some assistance with keeping tabs on their insidious children;
  • It is tracking so as to offer cops some assistance with catching criminals by tracking their mobile devices;
  • It is offering husbands or wives some assistance on finding out if they are cheating;
  • It is helping insight organizations in tracking terrorist and so on.

Along these lines, with the help of this innovation, it is trusted that we will have the capacity to cope with the bad guys in a better way.

 

Applications, Mobile

5 Most Creative Applications of Voice Tech

 

Twenty years ago, telling your phone to schedule reminders, open apps, and answer what is zero divided by zero was unfathomable. The average person wouldn’t believe that voice tech would become a reality.

Fast forward to the present. Speech recognition technology has been woven into our lives as personal assistants. They’ve helped simplify the way we use our phones. They’ve opened a new frontier of learning for blind people. And they’ve given our phones character, for those moments where talking to your voice assistant soothes you.

So, out of the plethora of speech recognition apps out there, what are the best out of the rest? What five apps have completely revolutionized human interaction with their phones and/or computers? Keep reading to find out.

  1. Siri

Siri, the personal assistant app found on devices utilizing Apple’s iOS was first introduced on October 4, 2011. Siri’s unveiling coincided with the release of the iPhone 4S and iOS 5.

Since that day, it has been a mainstay on all Apple devices and has spawned plenty of meme-worthy moments.  In addition, others followed suit with Google Now and Cortana being released.

With Siri, users could send text messages using their voices, make dinner reservations, flip a coin, display movie times, place a call, set a reminder, set an alarm, tell you the calories in a Diet Coke, show you flight times and train times – you get the point. The capabilities of Siri are almost infinite, and she continues to get better and better with every update.

Siri was a catalyst for voice technology in phones. If Siri had been poorly received, do you think Cortana or Google Now would’ve been released?

  1. Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Dragon from here on out) has become one of the most efficient voice recognition tools on the PC platform. The ability to take what you say and put them into words has simplified the way we type.

The software was developed by Nuance and has been designed for personal and commercial use. It may not be perfect (no speech recognition service is), but it is one of the best voice technology software out there.

Long gone are the days when you had to sit hours at the computer typing up documents and articles. Dragon has finally done what we’ve all been dreaming about, for which it rightfully earns its place on this list.

apple-ios-9-siri

  1. DriveSafe.ly Pro

One of the biggest problems society faces today is distracted driving. In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in accidents involving distracted drivers. A big culprit behind that startling number is texting while driving. But DriveSafe.ly aims to combat that.

The app reads your most recent text message to you and you can reply using your voice – all hands-free.

It’s a creative idea that aims to address the issue of texting while driving. As long as the app’s functionality continues to improve, it could be a lifesaver for many drivers who suffer from being distracted on the road.

  1. Google Voice Search

See that little microphone in the Google Search box? That’s Google’s own little piece of voice tech that many people often overlook. What lands it on this list is how impressive the accuracy is. It’s not 100%, but it certainly makes a case for it. Next, Google’s search was already fast. Adding voice search has only made the process quicker.

  1. Ford SYNC

Voice recognition software in cars has largely been useless up to this point. Yes, they can play music on demand or activate the GPS, but Ford SYNC has been the pinnacle of speech recognition in cars for a long time.

Ford SYNC has been available in the Explorer, Focus, Mustang, Escape and Fusion models since 2007. The service has over 10,000 commands, including real-time traffic, directions, and streaming music from your phone. All this can be controlled through you voice with the right words.

So these are the most creative apps that utilize voice technology. All these apps manage to utilize the tech in a way that it has become an integral part of our lives. Voice technology only has more room to surprise us with the next trick it has up its sleeve.

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This is a guest post by Jessica Kane, a professional blogger who writes about technology and other gadgets and gizmos aplenty. She currently writes for Total Voice Tech, her go to for all professional Dragon products.

Mobile

Smartphone Apps That Measure Your Broadband Stats

 

There are various reasons why you might want to have the ability to measure a variety of stats relating to your broadband connection. When you are paying for a broadband connection, you will want to know that you are getting what you have paid for in terms of connection speed. If you have a restricted amount of bandwidth each month then you will also need to monitor how much of that allowance you have been using.  Mobile apps can be a great way to monitor both your broadband usage and your performance. Let’s take a look at some of the apps that are available for this purpose.

Speedtest.net Mobile Speed Test

Speedtest.net have been one of the most popular sites for testing internet speed connections for several years and now they are also offering an app for testing the speed of mobile internet connection. It is pretty much the go to app for iPhone users and it also has a pretty big following among Android users as well. This quick and easy test can let you know if your internet provider is really offering you the speed of broadband connection that they have promised and can be very helpful if you suspect that you are not getting what you have paid for.

Verizon My FiOS

If you happen to have subscribed to your internet services via one of the many Verizon bundles that are available, then you will no doubt find the Verizon My FiOS app useful. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices and allows you to monitor your usage and manage your account right from your smartphone. The app can be used to pay your bill, redeem rewards points and monitor your monthly usage. The app is free of charge and available to  all Verizon FiOS Broadband customer.

SamKnows Mobile Whitebox

The SamKnows app was actually designed in partnership with the FCC and some of the United States’ top mobile providers. It measures a variety of broadband stats including the following:

  • download speeds
  • upload speeds
  • latency
  • packet loss
  • jitter
  • additional passive metrics

The app is available for both iOS and Android, with the Android version able to run in the background while you are using your phone. This is great for building up a long term picture of your broadband connection’s performance without much effort on your part!

Traffic Monitor

Another useful app which is available in the Apple App store for iOS devices is Traffic Monitor. This in a mobile speed test and data usage widget which can be downloaded free of charge. It offers an at a glance look at both speed and performance.

These are just a handful of the apps that you can choose from in order to monitor the speed of your internet connection or keep tab on your data usage. It is worth noting that although most internet providers do offer apps like this, it is sometimes best to download a back up from an independent source, just to verify what your ISP is suggesting. After all, your provider has good reason to fudge connection speed figures, so why not put your mind at rest by checking the results from more than one app to get an accurate reading.

 

image via chipchick

General, Mobile

10 Most Popular And Meticulous Mobile Apps

 

Take a look on vast array of mobile apps that simply provides fun & joys with unlimited photos, videos, productivity, news, social networking and much more

Mobile applications are either pre-installed in our phones or simply downloaded from play store or different mobile distribution platforms. These mobile applications are built in with strong development for additional functionality and better performance of smart phones.

If I ask you a simple question that which is the most interesting mobile application you have used in past few days? Then I guess you might get confuse for few seconds, because there are ample of such apps in the digital market which are supposed to be quite helpful and wonderful for every time and for every user. On the basis of this increased popularity, Global web index which is a popular online research firm conducted a survey to collect the findings about most famous apps in the world.

Also have a look at the info-graphic provided by the same firm:

  1. Google Maps: helps you to get around!

Google maps- one of the wonderful apps that help you to navigate the directions like a pro. This app is dynamically re-route and stands on real time traffic information which suggests that which is a correct lane to be get in. It not only helps you to choose the best eating spot around but also provides the opportunity to visit any city in the world and discover highest mountains to lowest valleys on Earth. You can also create your own map, save the home and workplace addresses and keep track of all the places you reviewed.

54% internet usage has been monitored by the research team.Financial analysts estimated the annual net income of Google which is approximately $3.64 billion in net income $56.52 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and operating income of $4.34 billion (29% of revenues), up from $3.76 billion in the same quarter last year. And now it has been expected to hit more figures in upcoming years.

  1. Facebook mobile app: best for social hangouts

Face book mobile app is a most comprehensive application optimized for all phones. According to a rough estimate, there are approximately 125.7 million people in the world are using Face book daily. 44% usage has been recorded by people from age 18-24. App allows people to discover latest news about friends and family, get their latest photos and videos and provide more opportunities to interact closely through different fan pages.

According to financial researchers of US, Facebook’s revenue grew from 7.87 million in 2013 to 12.47 billion US dollars in 2014. That year, the social network accumulated a net income of 2.94 billion US dollars.

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  1. You tube: watch, post & share

You tube mobile app is a world’s most popular site that helps users to find their desirable videos all around the globe. According to a survey team, approximately 25% of YouTube’s traffic is generated by mobile apps and now mobile views have been increased up to 300% since last 2 years. 98.9 million People are using you tube in US and approximately 35% people in the whole world to upload content, to subscribe different channels, activities and friends.

You tube is expected to generate about $5.6 billion in gross advertising revenue worldwide this year, which is considerably higher than previous years

  1. Google + mobile app

Google + is quite different from Facebook or twitter but definitely a sweeter spot than other social networks. In Google plus you can classify your friends and co-workers more easily. It is not allowed for under 18 aged people; moreover no private messaging is allowed as a dedicated part. It has excellent push notification system and privacy is taken care with elegant circles. 30% people are using Google plus daily on their android devices.

  1. We-Chat: free live chat sessions

We chat mobile app integrates with your Android version to give you best experiences with your friends. You can simply select your contact and enjoy instant text messaging with lots of animated smiley. It has a real walkie talkie mode with up to 40 friends. You can also share, comment and like your friend’s pictures, send photos & videos and import contacts directly. 27% internet usability has been recorded in the world and more than 30% usability in US.

The surge in We-Chat’s active users has been a major contributor in driving its first quarter net profit which is up 64%QoQ to US$1.26 billion

  1. Twitter mobile app: most open social network

The official twitter mobile app allows people to use most extensive social network at any place and at any moment. From the main app page, you can carry out several functions such as follow, un-follow, and tweet; re-tweet like etc. the biggest advantage of using twitter is you can receive constant notifications without visiting the main page of website. It has approximately 22% usability around the world.

So according to financial analysts, twitter is generating approximately 3.3 billion dollars in 2015 and expecting to be more in 2016 and onwards.

  1. Skype: a versatile communication tool

Skype is considered to be the official app from video calling program backed by Microsoft, which makes it easier to send text messages and video calling as well. Once you install Skype you can search and communicate with different users and taking into account that there are approximately 250 million users in the world, you can add any of them through their email address in just matter of seconds.

Now Microsoft Skype unit is approaching 2 billion dollars annual income in 2015 which is considerably high than 2014.

  1. Facebook Messenger: keep connected with several users

Face book messenger is considered as an official Face book app that allows users to enjoy text conversations with friends community. Thanks to this app, that enables us to send text messages and video conversations which we can continue later on… We can even add multiple recipients at a same time and then it appears in the bubble look which we can easily move around on the mobile screen.

whatsapp-892926_640

  1. Whatsapp: cross platform messenger

Instant messaging is one of the key features of whatsapp. We can even start group conversations with friends, and can use epic smileys related to daily life concerns. It doesn’t require adding of buddies and available without any International charges. It also doesn’t demand any pins, codes and usernames. It simply works through our phone numbers and integrates with the address book. 17% usability has been recorded according to the survey.

Whats-App has 100m active users who have used it for more than a year. The average revenue split on app stores is 70/30 so in addition to initial revenue from iOS (ca $18m), this gives us around $45m annual revenue through app renewals.

  1. Instagram: enjoy mobile photography on android

Instagram is one of the most wonderful filter photograph applications form androids and I phone. It differs itself from all other apps by creating social network of users. Its main function is to give your pictures a unique frames and best series of filters in which popular ones are XPro II, Earlybird, Sutro, Toaster, Brannan and many more… it also allow users to determine other people to see which pictures they have uploaded to the wall.

Financial analysts believe that Instagram could generate more than $2 billion revenue next year and would quickly overtake Twitter’s revenue.

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Follow latest trends for your business:

Have you ever thought creating your own mobile app? If you are thinking that mobile app creation is solely for reputed brands then you are wrong. Every small and large business is following the latest trend for making more income and benefits because they understand that effective mobile strategies involves more than just a simple mobile friendly website.

I know it sounds quite challenging, but believe me once you decide; you will find different prestigious organizations that are successfully providing you the opportunity to design your own mobile app development system having flash technology targeting Android and iOS etc.

Applications, Mobile

Here’s How To Choose The Right App For Your Kid

 

We all know that these days students expect to access information using technology & they are comfortable with that. With the increment in cheaper smart-phones & good 3G-4G network, It is expected to  smartphone users count is going to reach around 1.75 billion. With the help of mobile apps it is very easy to access information anywhere anytime is always a big plus. By using chat rooms & discussion boards student can be engaged in a discussion outside of the class without having to go to the college. There are so many mobile apps have been launched by companies that are helpful for students & teachers. In infographic Tutors umbrella have attempted to explain how anyone can choose best mobile app.

Choose-The-Perfect-App

 

General

How Technology Can Help With Your Pets

 

Statistics indicate that global spending on caring for pets continues to increase year on year. Figures in 2014 were $98.3 billion and that figure is expected to rise to $103.8 billion by the end of 2015. While billions are spent on pet food, there has also been a large increase on non-edible spend such as: grooming treatments, holidays, day care, clothes and toys. It is clear that more and more people are treating their pets as family members, and companies are noticing an opportunity to cash in on this.

Euromonitor has identified three different types of pet owner. Mainstream humanisers who predominantly buy premium brands. These make up two thirds of owners. Anti-humanisers make up over 20% of owners and generally buy smaller brands. The final group identified are known as extreme humanisers and make up over 5% of owners. This group tends to treat their pets as personal accessories and favour exclusivity and designer outfits for their pets.

A particular area that has adapted to the growth in pet spending has been the technological sector. There has been a sharp increase in the amount of apps and wearables that target pet owners. Owners can now monitor the fitness of their loved ones, as well as having confidence in the whereabouts of their pets through tracking devices. Feeding and training and has even been made easier for the owner, thanks to technological advancements, while there are also an extensive array of play apps available to ensure that your pet is never bored.

At Greyhounds As Pets the guys are dealing with hundreds of pet owners on a daily basis. Speaking with owners, and understanding the important role that their pets have within the family. Many believe that technology has given them a better understanding of their pet’s needs, while others praise the flexibility and convenience that apps and technology offer them. For example, you can now manage your pet’s meals through your smartphone or tablet, controlling when, how much and how often they eat.

Here’s an infographic to inform and educate pet owners on the excellent selection of apps and wearables now available for pets.

tech-for-pets

software, tablets

Microsoft Apps to Come Preloaded On LG, Sony, Other Android Tablets

microsoft-powerpoint-in-android-tablet

Microsoft is one of these tech-oriented giant companies that seem to know a thing or two about software distribution across the pond. But what about apps? Glad you asked, because there’s something going on around the business of this corp these days – strategic wise, of course. Based on the details shared, the Windows maker announced that it has officially partnered with more than 20 Android tablet makers, among them are also big leaders like LG and Sony, to bundle its apps on future tablet versions or updates. Some of the apps which are due to come pre-loaded inside include the popular video messaging app Skype, as well as Bing, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook Word, Excel, and a variety some others. A sort of an Office Suite, if you will. The purpose of this move is likely to create a cross-platform functionality for its apps. Whether this is an indication that Microsoft is giving up on its own platform or not, I have no idea, but time will surely tell.

[Microsoft Blog]

Applications

10 Best Educational apps For Teachers and Students

Education-Books

It’s almost impossible to keep children away from the computer or their Smartphone these days. We are fighting a losing battle if we try to stop them spending a lot of time on their phone but it is possible to encourage them to make better use of that time with some direction from the parents.

There are apps available that can be hugely beneficial to children of all ages. This means that your children can still spend a lot of the time on their phone but it is now educational and fun for them. Also, there are some apps that can be used in the classroom that may transform the way our children learn. That’s the amazing thing about apps these days, technology means that children can use educational apps that will make them better at Math or English, while having fun at the same time.

There is a lot of help online for parents who want to encourage their children to use educational apps. The list of the best educational apps here for teachers and students is a good starting point and you are sure to find one your children will like in there.

This info-graphic from The Tutoring Expert outlines the benefits of mobile apps for children & gives you a guide for selecting these apps along with recommendations for the best educational apps currently available.

Top-10-Educational-Apps

Accessories, Applications

First Apple Watch Apps Start Showing Up On iTunes

apple-watch-apps

The Apple watch may not be available till April 24th, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to own one. Well, not exactly the watch itself but more like some of the third-party apps people can expect to use on the watch. As some of you may have noticed, a few selected apps which have been specifically designed to be used on the Cupertino smartwatch, are starting to hit Apple’s own App Store today. Among these new applications, you can find some of the most popular ones such as Twitter, WeChat, Expedia, Things, Target, Dark Sky and numerous others, all of which are now available for download to your iPhone.

Mind you, there is no clear option to be able to use the apps with a smartwatch functionality, other than your daily regular use – that option will only be valid for those who’ve had a previous matching sync (between the watch and their phones) like journalists, for example, who have tested the watch before; the rest of us will have to wait patiently.

More of these apps are expected to roll out as we draw closer to the official release of the watch.

[via Cult of Mac]

 

 

Applications, software

InboxVudu Helps You Quickly Get to the Important Emails In Your Inbox

InboxVudu

I’m sure you all probably know how utterly frustrating it is when you get your mailbox full of email that you just don’t have the time of day to read and respond. The tricky part is that you can’t actually see or decide which is more important than the other and therefore should be given priority when you finally have some guilt-free time left over.

InboxVudu is a new startup that’s looking to solve this problem. The service which was recently launched to the market in Beta mode and which is claiming to be your inbox’s best friend, will help its users to determine the importance of each email that finds its way into their inbox, by (hopefully) letting them know in case they happen to find themselves “in danger of missing an important email or forgetting to follow up with someone on time.”

inboxvudu_ipad

The service which uses advanced Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning technologies will basically hook up with your Gmail or Google Apps account in just a few clicks, while working silently in the background to make sure you get some sort of a “too long, didn’t read” version of your incoming emails and help ensure that you do not forget to respond to those important messages getting lost in the rest of the inbox.

Although the service is in private beta, InboxVudu was nice enough to give Technologer readers 100 invites so that you can try it out, free of charge.

Applications, General

20 Apps That Will Help You Increase Productivity at Work

Staying productive at work is something that many of us often struggle with throughout the day. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not that we are incapable of doing anything, it’s that sometimes we can’t rouse ourselves to get things done. This struggle often results in the wrong ranking of plans, even when we think we are on the right way and follow the established collection procedures.

What’s the best way to handle this stuff, you guys are asking? One thing which is particularly helpful to people in the long run is to search, find, and use the best working methods available. Another, is to select some third-party apps that will eventually leverage your productivity at work.

We acknowledge the fact that different people may have different needs, and different needs may ultimately require different apps, but the general idea is to get everyone the best configuration that can exploit their creativity and productivity at work.

For this reason we have decided to share this cool infographics with some of the best apps to help you be effective and accurate in your daily complicated tasks. Check out the full list below and let us know what do you use to stay productive.

 Apps-for-productivity-at-work  

 

Infographic is courtesy of Open Colleges

Applications, Mobile

10 Best Construction and Building Mobile Apps [Infographic]

Do you have any plans to develop a new apartment or renovate your old house with new exciting design?

It’s 2015, and technology in the building & construction industry is becoming more and more influential. This is because there are apps becoming available that make things so much easier for builders. The current batch of building apps have the potential to greatly improve efficiency and also improve safety on a building site. There is much less chance of making a mistake when using these highly rated building apps.

Some of these building apps charge a fee but just looking at the reviews it seems they are well worth the small investment. There are also many free building apps that are really simple to use and would be handy for anyone involved in any type of construction.

So If you are looking for a handy dandy set of tools to help you out with a new home design, just take a look at this cool list of practical and useful apps.

Infographic is courtesy of Calgary Window & Door Guys 

Applications, General

6 Great Apps for Avid Coffee Lovers [Infographic]

Coffee is something that most of us count on as our daily fix or pick-me-up. In fact, Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, that’s equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year! It’s no surprise then that a range of apps have been built around this much loved beverage.

This cool infographic provides a round-up of some of the best apps for coffee lovers at the moment. Whether you’re a coffee amateur or a coffee connoisseur, we’ve got for you a digital solution in the palms of your hand . Below, you’ll find a list of apps that will help you out either when you’re interested in finding out about an app that can help you discover your nearest independent coffee house or learn about an app that allows you to record all your co-workers coffee preferences to make ordering coffee a stress-free affair. If you enjoy making coffee at home, that’s not a problem at all, there’s also an app that provides you with a whole host of amazing coffee recipes.

Go check ’em out and cheers!

Apps-for-coffee-lovers

 

Infographic is courtesy of Espresso works

Games

Top 16 Highest Earning Gaming Apps on The App Store [Infographic]

Mobile applications are already an inherent part of our daily life. The average activity includes basic social networking elements, as well as taking photos, watching videos, streaming music and playing video games. Yes, the mobile phone has apart from communication also become a very powerful device for gaming, and game applications are the most popular apps on the App Store, according to any common standard rates.

Due to the growing popularity of these apps, Apple (and Google) has created an ecosystem that allows software developers to create applications that will work on multiple devices at a global level.

There are now over 1,300,000 apps on the iOS App Store, with the top-grossing games to offer free + in-app purchases, selling virtual goods and upgrades to improve a gamer’s performance and overall experience. 

The total revenue of top 200 iOS gaming apps has reached a staggering $9,001,403 collectively, with Clash of Clans taking the first place with a total revenue of $1,415,090, followed by Candy Crush Saga with $989,307 in earnings. The third spot goes to Game of War-Fire Age which makes revenue of $844,334 while the fourth is taken by the Farm Heroes Saga with $343,352 overall.

Take a look at the full results in the infographic below. What do you think? 

Top-Earning-iOS-Gaming-Apps

 

Infographic is courtesy of Top Apps and designed by Blueberry labs

Applications, Mobile

Here’s How Mobile Apps Are Changing The World [infographic]

Smart phones are the latest buzz in the cell phone world. Scores of companies are churning apps by the hour and this infographic shows just what is happening in the world of mobile apps – popular apps, top categories, app stores etc. It has everything there is to know about mobile apps in a jiffy!

Apple’s App Store is leading the group with roughly 900,00 apps, to date (updated from wwdc2013 event), and 50 billion total downloads during a period of 5 years, or so. Android is right after, with about 800,000+ apps at the Google Play store, while the rest of the list is far behind, with Windows Phone Store featuring 145,000 apps, and Samsung Apps with only 13,000 apps at the moment. Check out the table to learn more about the numbers and info.

How Mobile Apps Have Changed the World

This infographic is courtesy of  Top Apps and Designed by Graphs.net

Image source: Lifehacker

Games, Mobile, Phones

Two of The Best New Free Games for Nokia Mobile Phones

Mobile gaming is a massive growth industry, as indeed is the mobile phone sector as a whole; and one of the biggest manufacturers of mobiles in the world is Nokia. Thus Nokia mobiles are amongst the devices that many of the top games developers are pitching their games towards, with the good news for those using Nokia mobiles being that many of these games apps are free to download. These are some of the better new ones out there for Nokia mobiles.

Continue reading Two of The Best New Free Games for Nokia Mobile Phones →

General, Mobile

8 Instagram Web Services That Can Help You Manage and Organize Your Photos

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Instagram, the most popular photo-sharing service these days, has officially hit 80 million users who have uploaded more than 4 billion photos, since its launch  in October 2010. Acquired by Facebook for a staggering $1 billion, the San Francisco-based startup behind  the popular mobile photo application, was initially built for iPhone, and got extended to Android users in April of 2012.

Regardless of their popularity, If there’s one thing missing from Instagram, is a simple and intuitive web-based user interface. And while the company appears to be committed to find a decent solution for the average user, more and more third-party companies are jumping on the Instagram bandwagon.

To remedy this problem, we have gathered a list of eight Instagram web services to help you manage, sort, organize, and share your digital images, as the photo space heat up. Check it out after the break.

 

Continue reading 8 Instagram Web Services That Can Help You Manage and Organize Your Photos →

Applications, Mobile

The Apps That Make The BlackBerry Bold 9790 Best For Business

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BlackBerry has built its reputation on its relationship with the business world. More than any other smartphone, BlackBerry’s long association with the corporate market has provided a good base for its success. The success of iOS and the growth of Android in 2011 has undoubtedly left manufacturer RIM in a weaker position in the UK, having been pushed into third place. However, the release of the new Bold range in 2011, with the Bold 9790 at the centre of the campaign, and the release of the new operating system, BB7, means BlackBerry is taking on its competitors and reinforcing its position in the business world.

The Bold 9790 includes many of the same features that have made BlackBerry a popular business brand, including the ability to set up different email accounts and instant messages, to multitask and browse the web while working on other platforms. It also includes some new features, like the ability to separate a personal and business profile within the one device. There are also different apps that can be downloaded to further utilize and maximise the ability of the Bold 9790 to meet the needs of the business community. Here are the top five.

Social Media networks like Twitter are becoming increasingly important for businesses as they allow people to share their commercial knowledge and connect their brand with consumers. Apps like UberSocial are ideal for BlackBerry as they allow users to manage multiple accounts and tweet easily on the move using the devices QWERTY keyboard.

Dropbox is a feature many will use day to day in work, allowing them to share documents and material remotely. BlackBerry App world has a version of the software that allows users to share and read documents on their drop box on their device.

Battery Booster is ideal for those who need their BlackBerry from the beginning to the end of the working day and might not have access to a charger. The app stops different applications which are draining the battery to ensure optimum performance and saving battery life for those apps you need most.

BlackBerry Traffic provides an up to date service which can be vital to make sure you get to meetings and appointments on time. The app gives information about roads that are closed and plans routes, gives an idea of traffic congestions and provides an estimated time of arrival making it easier to plan a journey.

The business day can be a busy one and often it is difficult to keep up to date with what is happening in the world. BlackBerry News is an app providing an RSS feed of the latest news headlines, allowing users to scroll through and get an update on developments. Easily to scroll through and read it makes it easier to catch up on the train or over lunch.

Apple and Android have both been making inroads into the business market over the last twelve months. RIM has seen its BlackBerry phone deals fall below a 20% share in the UK smartphone market. Their new launch of the Bold range, in particular the 9790 and the new OS7 is designed to catch up with its competitors and provide a new and improved platforms for the business market. These apps are designed for BlackBerry to make the working day a little bit easier.

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This Article was written by Simon Drew from Best Mobile Contracts

tablets

BlackBerry PlayBook Gets a Native Facebook Application

While the rest of the world is still waiting for Facebook to finally release a native app for the iPad, Blackberry Playbook from RIM is one of the first tablets to have it. As of today, anyone who gets their hands on the 7-inch, QNX-based slate, can now download the most-anticipated Facebook app and start connecting with their family members, share photos/videos, post stuff on their wall or have a chat with friends. In addition to that, the Canadian corp is said to release a new Video Chat application as well and make it available to download on May 3rd (Today!). More on that at BlackBerry World, which takes place between May 3-5 in Orlando, Florida. Hit the jump to read the full press releases.

 

Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook Gets a Native Facebook Application →

tablets

Google’s Android Honeycomb OS and Android Market Website Officially Announced

Looking back on early January 2011, we catch a glimpse of an awesome experience of the Android 3.0 video teasers. Looking forward to what’s ahead of this year let us capture a vision of the great Honeycomb OS which will inevitably make Android the dominant Smartphone and Tablet platform of the future. The rapid ascent of Android has prompted Google to go ahead and announce the official release of its latest creation, made by Palm’s former UI designer, Matias Duarte, and best known as the Android Honeycomb – Google’s answer to many of tablet -based OS out there. And while there wasn’t much news about it, it is still worth watching – especially for those that widgets, finger gestures, or 3D rendering matters spark their interest. The one thing however, that caught most people’s eyes was Google’s Android Market which has finally turned official, as a web client, and gone live couple of hours ago with a very neat and simple Market catalog to browse (more than 50,000 apps inside) with both free and paid Android applications preloaded on board. Move forward after the break to catch up with Google’s full event.

Continue reading Google’s Android Honeycomb OS and Android Market Website Officially Announced →

Applications, Computers, News, software

iPad App Store Screenshots Unveiled

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Feel you’re running out of patient to get your new lavish iPad device? Already searching for content to fill it with? In that case, prepare to spend big bucks on this track, because according to these Apple iPad App Store screenshots that recently emerged, they won’t come cheap. In fact, only 8 applications out of the leaked images are free, while others will cost from few greenish dollars and up to $49.99(!) when it comes to OmniGraffle – at least there’s more functionality there, and apparently those apps would likely fetch a lot more money for developers rather than iPhone’s apps. One more detailed image after the break, to serve your appetite.

Update1: Checkout the cool video after the break and watch the iPad App Store browsing experience for yourselves.

Update2: Now it’s official, iPad apps cost a lot more than iPhone and iPod touch apps. In fact, for some of them you’ll have to pay more than double in order to enjoy the experience of a larger screen – but that wouldn’t probably stop Apple’s fanboys from getting one – would it? According to the good guys at The Consumerist who dug up this issue thoroughly, the price differences between equivalent applications on both devices is ridiculously bigger when you come to get’em for your soon-to-be-available Apple tablet compared to the ones you’d get for the cellphone machine. How big, you’re asking? $4.99 Flight Control HD vs. $0.99 Flight Control or $2.99 Flick Fishing HD against $0.99 Flick Fishing, etc. Overall, you’d have to pay $53 for iPad apps compared to JUST $27 on an iPhone or iPod Touch for the same list exactly. Checkout the comparing table right after the break.

Update3: And looks like the iPad apps are finally live at the Apple app store [iTunes Link], with 1,000 of them, already available for download/purchase, and many others which are yet to come. Prepare to open your wallets, it ain’t gonna be cheap, you know.

[via App Annie]

Continue reading iPad App Store Screenshots Unveiled →

Applications, Games, Mobile, Phones

21 Amazingly Free iPhone and iPod Touch Games

2 Comments

Mobile gaming is still in primeval stages – that’s unquestionable – but the foreseeable future is likely to be promising. In a rapidly growing market with over 20,000 iPhone and iPod Touch games available on Apple’s App Store, it’s not that hard guessing this is just a matter of time until portable games will start dominating our very own smartphones while overpowering desktop platforms. Especially now, when Cupertino teams up with more developing companies and Redmond that finally joins the party with Windows Phone 7 Series which suppose to integrate Xbox Live architecture in Microsoft’s coming machines. Still, it would probably take some time until substantial changes will eventually become real  – a year or two in our humble opinion. Anyway, ’till then, if you already play games on iPhones or iPod touch players, but  feel short in cash to start funding all those neat apps that show up in big numbers, every day and after, here’s a list of twenty one games, free of charge, for you to download. Please feel free to add your favorite “cost-nothing” apps, down in the commenting section.

Continue reading 21 Amazingly Free iPhone and iPod Touch Games →

Mobile, News, Phones

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Series Announced, Due Out This Holidays Season

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It’s hot at the Mobile World Congress 2010, in Barcelona, as Microsoft officially unveils its latest and probably biggest Windows Phone 7 series, a new and pretentious Windows Mobile rendition, identical to all carriers and future device brands, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon architecture onboard, handling smoothly the featured (unsized) capacitive touchscreens, built into those dev demo prototype phones. Basically, it’s a a whole new mobile system Redmond has literally built from the scratch and tweaked to be used on mobile machines in a way that you’ve never seen before. True, it would likely take time to get used to the 7 series, but its harmonic look and feel is surprisingly refreshing and conveniently flows. Yes, if you had this “deja vu” feeling of a Zune HD interface control, you’re probably not alone, but Microsoft has taken it few steps forward and created more in-depth platform with many new features like Xbox Live integration, social networking interaction, myriad of apps and widgets installed. “Every Windows series phone will be a Zune”, that’s what we’ve been told, and synchronizing your handheld  music with PC computers is claimed to be very easy and simple to work.

The home screen itself includes dynamic vertical tiles, with customizable shortcut links to variant apps, contacts and other in-house modes, designed in a way you can flip them down from head to toe, but also pan left and right to sub-directories and other hidden rows. It boasts that same big and bold Zune HD  text style, which relatively changes and gets magnified the moment you slide the screen and start to scroll. And navigating between the menus makes you realize that Microsoft completely revamped the OS code, making it concentrate in four major segments: People, Games, Pictures, Music plus Video hub homes. Each hub is an independent unit that’s responsible for different tasks, where you can watch and share your personal stuff (images/videos) via hub or cloud,when it comes to ‘pictures’ window, or in other case connect with friends and get updates from family/other contacts through social media services in the ‘People’ spot and the most fascinating thing – play Xbox LIVE games, create avatars, and profiles, at the ‘Games’ area zone – Cool. At the end of the day it’s a new platform that suppose to serve our next-gen phones, so naturally it would also include a non-supportive Adobe flash Internet Exploder browser and Outlook email app to handle mails on the go. Oh, and don’t forget, there’s a dialing phone somewhere inside.

Hardware wise, Microsoft mobile phones will include 3 buttons each: Start, Search and Back, while capacitive displays will have 4-points multi-touch compatibility, with flipping, panning and pinch to zoom gestures support. As mentioned, Microsoft has partnered with Qualcomm, which means we’re likely to see Arm Snapdragon chipset, tossed inside the bowel.

Microsoft as you may know, teamed up with worldwide carriers like AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, while manufacturers partnerships include Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm.

It would probably take time to realize whether Windows 7 series is a game changer or not, but we’re glad to see that Microsoft is finally raising the mobile OS bar and placing it in a whole new and distinguished level that would likely make many people across this realm start scratching their heads and rearrange their thoughts. When will this crazy and exciting software go out and hit the roads? I guess you’ll have to be patient here and wait ’till it gets to the market somewhere around the end of the year, right next to holidays madness season days.

Update: We’ve added the full hands-on walkthrough video, right after the break. A bit long but definitely worth a try.

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Applications, Computers, Media Players, Mobile, Phones

iPad UI Now Available On iPhone And iPod Touch Devices

Have you heard the joke that claims you can turn your iPhone into an iPad once looking at the screen from close range? Well, you don’t really need to, that of course in case you have jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch machines at your disposal. But even if you don’t, just think about it, the idea of carrying at the back of your pocket a mobile device that packs iPad capabilities like 3D interface, iBook reader, neat photo display or other cool functions sounds pretty cool, isn’t it? If so, maybe you’d like try it yourself, after all, getting it is as simple as taking your favorite vanilla cookie out of the jar, just get into Cydia app store and look for the “Simple iPad Theme”, exactly as shown in the video, step-by-step, right after the break.

[via PMPtoday]

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