Category: Mobile App

Android 9 or the latest Android Pie has just arrived. As the most recent update in the sequence of Android versions, it is likely to have an array of advanced features compared to the previous versions.

In emerging mobile markets where less expensive and feature-rich Android devices enjoy a significant market share, the new OS update can make things easier for development companies and startups.

With the new OS update, Android app development in India and many emerging markets are certainly going to experience a push. In many respects, Android 9 Pie offers some exceptional as well as future-ready features that help Android stand at par with the latest technologies and development standards.

Here below we are going to explain six key features of Android Pie.

1. Gesture navigation replacing the older 3-button navigation

Android Pie offered a significant shift from all previous Android versions by replacing the common 3 button navigation with a smarter gesture-based navigation system. While the earlier navigation feature was almost a signature element of the OS, the new navigation will break that cliche with something innovative.

As for being able to use this feature of the Android 9 Pie, all future devices will come equipped with this navigation capability. But this doesn’t mean, all present Android device users will be barred from using this. You can still use the new navigation after updating the device to the latest version. By the way, even in future Android devices also you will be able to use the older button for navigation besides the new one.

Let us provide the exact details of this navigation setup.

• You will have a pill-shaped Home button on the screen, and you can tap on that to navigate to the home screen.
• In the case in your device the old back button still appears, it will continue to remain there like before.
• Just a simple swipe on the home button will help you open the Recent view.
• By swiping the home button twice on the upside, you can open the app drawer.
• By swiping right and by holding on to the home button, you can scroll through the apps and release the hold to get to the app in the middle.
• By quickly swiping towards the right and releasing you can get back to the previous app.
• Just as before you can press the home button and open Google Assistant just as always.

2. AI led battery saving capability

For several OS updates Google has this unflinching focus to increase the battery life, and with the Android 9 the company probably has come up with the best solution. While most other Android versions couldn’t prevent the battery drain completely and in some cases only the battery drain increased, the latest Android Pie came with the futuristic AI-powered battery management capability.

The Adaptive Battery of Android Pie by adapting to the particular user preferences turns off the background running of certain apps to save battery life. To achieve this, the latest Android version uses Machine Learning technology.

According to Google, the company incorporated the inputs provided by the AI research organisation Alphabet of London for coming with this feature. AI for saving battery power is simply about learning the user habits and prioritizing some apps over others based on the user preferences assessed by this Machine Learning and AI-based feature. Moreover, to assure users regarding privacy concerns which is common with any AI-powered app, Google says it is not going to utilize the user preference data in any other way since the feature won’t use any cloud platform.

3. Android device user well-being program

One of the most talked-of features of the new Android Pie update is that it is going to take care of our well-being by taking active steps to reduce the addictive effects on users. Though as of now, this feature is only ready with the Pixel phones, we can expect this to be a regular feature in future flagships.

This feature will come with a Dashboard where you can set time limits for each and every app. The feature will automatically blur the icon of the respective app when you crossed the scheduled time limit allotted for each app. The dashboard will also provide you detailed reports about the apps that are taking most of your time and the apps with least engagement.

4. App Actions and App Timer

With the new Android Pie, the apps are going to deliver more user-centric user experience than ever before. The App Actions and App Timer are two such features to allow users very custom interactions.

Let’s come to the App Actions first. By just pressing long on an app icon you can quickly get the content list to play or run or list of things to choose an action. Google will provide the suggestions by your individual user habits.

This is similar to the app shortcuts that you can summon by long pressing on icons but quite different given the fact that it is Google launcher giving you suggestions of things to do with your phone. For each app, in the same way, you can set a time limit, and after crossing that limited time of use, the app icon will be blurred debarring the access.

5. Enhanced security features

Apart from an array of cool features to optimise the user experience, the new Android 9 Pie is also loaded with some stealthy features to improve data and device level security.

According to Google, no app can access certain device features and apps automatically unless you turn them on. This will prevent unsolicited access to device features and data to a great extent.

Secondly, to deal with certain emergencies the Android Pie provides you with lockdown mode which you can turn on when you think that the device is going to be handled by an unknown person. In such situations, the lockdown mode helps to hide the notifications from the screen.

6. Slices

Slice is a surprising feature in the new Android 9 update that allows the users see a slice of the app content from deep inside the app even before the user downloads it. Just carrying the same philosophy that made Google launch Instant Apps, app Slice will allow users are getting a token of the app content and feature right from the App Store listing. When deciding about downloading an app becomes tough without really having a first-hand experience of the app, Slice of the app can help.

Conclusion

Every year Google comes with new Android updates and does everything to enrich the mobile user experience for millions of Android device users. With the new Android 9, Pie Google set the standard of innovation and user experience even higher than the previous Android updates.

Author Bio:- Juned Ghanchi is a Co-founder and CMO of IndianAppDevelopers Company, leading mobile app developers in India mainly focused on iOS and Android platforms. He has more than 8 years of experience in developing and implementing marketing strategies.

Its fun to go shopping at times but when you have an eleventh-hour wedding to attend and there is no new dress in the wardrobe, it’s such a bummer.

Or maybe that time of year when Black Friday is around the corner and dying from stampede at the mall is your only phobia that’s holding you back from visiting that favorite store of yours.

But hey! These things are no-more to be bothered about.

Ever heard of Online Shopping?

Web designs and development have advanced so much in recent years that they now offer you to shop online? Pleasing – Isn’t it?

From Bath and Body to IKEA, you have them all with their online shopping stores where all you have to do is click, add to cart and checkout.

Painless right?

But sometimes, on those rainy days when sales are on and accessing their websites which due to heavy traffic tend out to go inaccessible. What sorts the issue out for us?

E-Commerce Applications or Shopping applications?

Never heard of them?

E-commerce is basically an application or platform designed for people to use it for exchanging/buying and selling of goods. Through these, purchasing or selling is just, say a click away.

Download Souq or Dubizzle and delve into how they operate.

Although they are somewhat similar to websites offering these features yet some of them are those that make them stand out. Essential features that make an e-commerce application unique.

We are sure you must be feeling puzzled here as to how can two things providing with the same facilities vary in features?

To end this confusion, we thought on elaborating to you some of the must-have features of an E-Commerce Application. Say these to be the meat and potatoes for our main course called E-Commerce.

Let’s begin?

FEATURES OF AN E-COMMERCE MOBILE APP

#1. Register Yourself

Whenever you go shopping online, you need to put in details for the order to get delivered to. So is this step. Registering yourself with the application not only makes you feed your data in system forever but also make it much easier for you to log-in every time simply and get going with shopping. Oh! Also, for you to know, once they are aware of your details, they always send in push notifications for discounts. Got you!

#2. Social Media Integration

Can you recall while registering you normally have two options? One to either fill out all the details or Log in with your existing Facebook/LinkedIn Profiles? The second form of logging in to any platform is what we call as Social Media Integration. We all hardly know anyone today who is not using Facebook or Twitter or any other social media application. So, with an easy two-step data input it mounts off the burden from users’ shoulders. Nonetheless, filling out that lengthy form makes us easily annoyed, swiping off from the screen. This feature is one of those basic steps that make accessing to the application much easier.

#3. Push Notifications

Who wouldn’t want to stay updated about any new promotions when signed up for a new adventure? E-Commerce applications normally have a base feature of sending notifications about any new updates or promotion they have to offer to their loyal customers.

We know those beeps nudging on your phones about offers and discounts from various applications. This being one of the important features of applications not only keeps us updated but also decide before hand on budgeting wisely.

#4. Simple and user-friendly Navigation

It’s annoying when zooming in and out to fix a specific picture to your mobile screen size is what you have to do while viewing let’s say a specific catalogue. Thus, while developing the Applications it is ensured that they contain minimalistic content that is easily displayed, appears non-pixelated, simple and does not look huddled. Having the feature of developing a responsive layout is again a fundamental.

#5. Analytics

Why is an E-Commerce application developed? To Improve and enhance sales. Now, if you do not have an option to track what was the traffic or how much revenue was being earned through application buying and selling, you will not be able to mark its success ratio. Thus, integrating a feature that enables you to record the audience percentage, success ratio and usage percent is a compulsion. Having one that’s already a part of your application can help you get impressed by tracking your viewer record.

#6. Offline Capabilities

How frustrating it gets when just because of weak network you have to give up while being on the edge of ending your purchases? It’s always an add-on when your users’ can experience offline surfing and continue with their activities regardless of your network getting non-responsive. While developers look into other foremost features, making your website or application usable while offline is no less than an icing to your cake.

#7. Add t0 wish-list

Right-hand of users while surfing or scrolling down categories from which they tend to buy later – Add to wish list point does not only make it easy for them to tag without getting into the hassle of scrolling up all the way again to find what they were looking for previously but also compare if and when needed with other products that may have been added to the cart.

#8. Multiple Payment Options

How crampy it gets when with all your heart you have shopped for your favorite items and when on the verge of payment, it says Credit Cards not accepted or Currency Type ABC not accepted. Shopping Applications or websites should no matter what entertain and integrate – We emphasis Integrate and Entertain the feature of Multiple payments. This lets your customer enjoy the freedom of being able to pay via whatever mode they opt for. Be it Credit Card or debit or perhaps cash. Not only does it make it easier for them but for the applications too as they can easily feed in the data for future references if saved.

#9.  Easy- Checkout

Once through with all the formalities and shopping modes, it gets easier for if checking out is just a click away. Having innumerable clicks and information to input that too when checking out gets fussy. And God-Knows-When can it ruffle your customer so much that they simply shut down the application and shop-no more?

The above mentioned are just those Top 9 Essential features we believe are important for an e-commerce application. However, there are plenty more that if missing make an application incomplete.

With these not only can you being developers ensure giving your user a relaxing and fun experience but also be sure of yourself getting the best responses ever.

Just in case if you are a Web Designer or Developer, we believe reading these must have given you an idea on what can you integrate in your final layouts.

In today’s world, everyone has a very tight and packed work schedule. The days of preparing food with ease are gone and people look for easier and effortless options to save their precious time. The perfect blend of technological advancement and industrialization is introducing a new era of modernization in the lives of the people.

In this fast growing economy, food delivery app development companies are growing day by day. On-demand food delivery applications like GrubHub, Swiggy, Zomato, Uber Eats, Postmates etc are capturing a huge share of the market with their magnificent and enthralling features.

Food ordered at the click of a button gets delivered to your doorstep in the shortest time possible. The days of standing in long queues at takeaways or waiting for hours at the restaurant for food are long gone with the advent of on-demand food delivery applications.

Cost of developing a food delivery app like GrubHub

Let’s talk about one of the most famous on-demand food delivery applications-GrubHub. GrubHub is an online food delivery app based in Chicago. It establishes a connection between the diners and the local food joints and restaurants. GrubHub has its branches spread over many nations and has around fourteen million active users and eighty thousand restaurant partners. The GrubHub application and website together connects the diners with around fifty-five thousand food joints in cities across The United States and England.

Diners can order either from the GrubHub app or the website. Both these options allow users to order food online, either electronically or through mobile applications.

How GrubHub food delivery app operates

The user is required to download the GrubHub app and get registered. If he/she is using the website, this step can be skipped. Upon entering your location, the on-demand food delivery app shows you the list of restaurants and food joints delivering in your locality. The application also has an option which shows a list of nearby restaurants that offer takeaway or pickup facilities.

Grubhub also provides the users with various filters that help them in narrowing down to exactly what they desire to have. These filters can narrow down the options to a particular restaurant, cuisine, dish or locality, thus making the process easy and effortless for the user. These filters incorporate alternatives like late night delivery, festival-oriented delivery, health-conscious food delivery, a specific cuisine related delivery and many more.

Also, to attract customers and gather their support and loyalty, GrubHub does not charge any extra delivery fees from its users. However, if a certain restaurant has a minimum order criteria or charges delivery fees for their distinctive services, the GrubHub online ordering system lets the customers know about it in advance. To maintain a sense of transparency, the users are well informed about the distance of the restaurant from their place and the approximate preparation time for the order.

These user-friendly, smooth and uncomplicated features make GrubHub one of the most sought after and popular food delivery apps in the market.
The payment methods are multiple and diverse and suit the needs of each and every user. The payment can be made using PayPal, Android Pay, Apple Pay or credit/debit card. Also, the feedback and reviews of the customers are given a lot of importance and these make it easier for the novel users to select and order from a particular restaurant.

Features of GrubHub App that determines the cost of development

The amount and quality of features determine the cost of development. Listed below are some of the remarkable and incredible features of GrubHub that make it unique:

 Rating, feedback and selection of restaurants:

GrubHuB presents to the users a wide range of food joints and restaurants to choose from and this gives the customers a large range of diverse options to make a choice from. The users are also offered several discounts and appealing deals, which is determined by GrubHub’s partnership with the restaurant. The customers can rate the restaurant that they chose depending on their experience with the quality of food that is delivered to them. Not only does this help the customer in voicing his/her option about a particular restaurant, it also helps others in making the right choice regarding a specific restaurant.

Comprehending the Price Structure:

With the help of GrubHub, the users can compare the basic rates of different restaurants. This assists the customers in choosing the restaurant that falls within their budget. GrubHub also offers a wide variety of deals and discounts to its customers that increase customer satisfaction and fulfilment.

Delivery Fees:

The delivery charges differ depending on your location, estimated arrival of your order and the minimum order required for free delivery. Disparate pickup options are accessible by the people to suit their convenience. This saves time and the order gets delivered according to the wishes of the user.

Information about the Restaurant:

Comprehensive and circumstantial information concerning each restaurant is made available to the people which makes it easier for the users to take a wise decision. Details such as the location of the restaurant and the feedbacks and reviews that it has received help the customers in choosing the right food joint.

Customer Service and Contentment:

It is essential for business associations to retain the trust and support of their loyal customers. The aim of business organisations is to not only sell their products but also establish a strong bond of connection with their customers. The success of an organisation is truly determined by the number of contented and satisfied customers it has.

These features make GrubHub one of the most trusted and popular on-demand food delivery applications of all times. The success of GrubHub mainly lies in the vast support and appreciation that it gets from its customers. It has proven to be one of the best on-demand application-specially for the people who cannot prepare their own food because of time constraints.

Determining the Cost of developing an On-demand food delivery application like GrubHub:

It is difficult to estimate exactly how much will on-demand food delivery app development cost a food delivery app development company.

Predominantly, mobile app development companies charge their clients on an hourly basis and this price differs from nation to nation. You can very well check it on sites like Clutch, Goodfirms, Upwork and others.

For instance, in The United States, a client needs to pay $100-$200, whereas in the European Nations, it differs and lowers down to $50 to $150. However, Indian app development firms do this at a much affordable cost ranging from $20-$50.

#1. The Discovery and Research stage is the most important phase while starting an on-demand food delivery application. This is where the design and development part of the application comes in and costs around 10 to 15% of the entire cost required building the application.

#2. The second step involves designing the application completely. This is done keeping the consumer and his/her convenience in mind. The cost range for this stage varies somewhere between 25-30% of the entire cost.

#3. The third stage is the application development stage where the makers get the primary insight on how the app will function. Designing the various codes, incorporating the important instructions for the food delivery apps is all carried forward in this stage. Just like the application designing stage, this stage also demands around 25-30% of the total cost.

#4. The final stage is the application testing stage. This is done by professional app testers, who scrutinize the various inbuilt codes and look out for possible mistakes in the functioning of the application. This stage needs a good 15-20% of the total cost which is given to the QA testers.

Signing off:

On-demand food delivery applications like Uber Eats, Dineout, Food Panda etc. are capturing the consumer market and are trusted and relied upon by millions of people across the globe. However, thorough research and consumer feedback and reviews are crucially important to develop a successful on-demand food delivery application as the consumers are always the top priority of all the on-demand applications.

This article is contributed by Sonal Mehta , Content Lead at SoluLab, a leading Enterprise Blockchain, Enterprise Mobile Apps and Web development company

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) is something that plays a vital role in the mobile app development since there are millions of similar apps available right now and there is something that should distinguish one from the other. So, the one thing that can differentiate from using other apps from that one particular app is the UI/UX design. Clearly, an app that does not look good on the mobile screens or does not provide the required experience as functions expected, animations, color contrasts, themes, readability, usability, etc is something no one would like to waste their data to download them. A bad UI/UX fails to attract the users and thus degrading the quality of the app.

What is User Experience (UX)?

User experience (UX) is something that provides the feel of the app. As a layman, it is as simple as the experience of the user while using an app. A good UX design is a technique to enhance customer satisfaction and trust with the help of simplifying the usability and app interaction. Before finalizing the app design related to the specific industry, target market and the needs of the users, it is very important to do a proper research on it.

What are some important aspects of a good UI/UX design?

#1. The symbols and the icons used should be simplified and nowadays people are also preferring the material design and minimal design concept. This way, they shall be able to relate to the app and then use it more often. The developers can then deliver an exceptional experience through it.

#2. The simpler the better. If your app design is simple, you would not need to have to explain your app using manuals or something similar to that.

#3. A good experience comes when the user feels that an app can help them in the day to day needs except for having them waste their time to figure out how to operate it. Use simplified directions and updates that could enhance productivity in an extensive manner.

#4. The design of the app should be accurate. The contents in it must not be irregular. The app icon must be catchy as well.

#5. Consider the finger size and create the icons and menu buttons on your app accordingly.

#6. Gradients help in making the UI seem more natural. Try to find good web designing services that can provide the best app experience to your users.

#7. A good research will help you know about the time taken by a general user on a particular app and thus help you know about the type of experience you can provide to the user for the usability of your app along with providing a seamless experience.

How does UI/UX play a role in the development and popularity of the app?

It is really easy to understand if an app is successful or not. Human instincts say that an app having a great look makes way for more downloads and shares and thus makes an app successful. It creates an image of your brand and the design sets an expectation for the users who download your app.

The developer should be active enough to take continuous feedback taken in order to get responses and motivate them to make your app better and more successful.

There are numerous apps that provide seamless and satisfying user experience and boost the conversion performance. For example, there is a difference that people choose WhatsApp over apps like Viber or Telegram.

Clearly the most popular instant messaging service, WhatsApp is more popular because of the user experience and the user interface their developers provide. Thus, a perfect balancing of the UI and UX make the app successful and popular.

A good mobile application looks into the needs of the user. However, if the app is not built well with the user experience or the user interface that could make the user stick to the app, some other developer will identify and take advantage of that situation. Too much of graphics would slower the app usage. Also, too much monochrome would make it less appealing. Therefore, there needs to be a perfect balance of the look that would enhance the user interface and the functionality which would enhance the user experience.

It is also important to keep in mind about the competitors and learn from the features they lack. Reviewing your app from the users is the best practice to do that. Once a review is done, you can make a report of the changes needed to be introduced and the number of things you would need to enhance in order to provide a really good app to your users.

This article is contributed by Sunny Chawla , Marketing Manager at AIS Technolabs a mobile app ui design company.

The future of mobile applications is really bright. According to a research the mobile app market is expected to grow to 80.6 billion by the end of the year 2020. This includes every other kind of applications including travel, social media, gaming, business, etc.

The reason behind this huge success is that the mobile app is better in every aspect in comparison to a website. First of all, it is much easier to use. The loading and response time are also much faster. Its interface is simple and thus can be used by people of any age group.

Nowadays there is one mobile app for every other task from ordering food to booking hotels, shopping for your favorite pair of shoes, tuning your guitar, etc. The total number of mobile app present in the Play Store increased from 2.8 million to 3.6 million in just a single year. This clearly proves the potential of the mobile app market.

What’s actually an on-demand app?

On-demand applications are those kinds of apps which fulfills the needs of customers or end users in real time. On-demand apps could be said to be a moderator between the end user and the service provider. It equally benefits both the two. The end user gets quality goods as quickly as possible on the other hand the service provider gets a huge number of orders from thousands of customers.

One of the best examples of on-demand apps is food delivery apps like Dominos or Swiggy. On-demand apps must be high performing and reliable as their main goal is to satisfy the customer need with high-quality goods or services in the shortest possible time.

From startup companies to enterprises all are working towards developing a powerful and efficient on-demand which is capable of handling bulk and bulk of orders simultaneously so that they can further boost their economy. That’s the reason why we have come up with a complete guide for developing on-demand apps. Here is how to develop an on-demand app you can rely on.

Identify your audience

The first step is to conduct a survey so that you can identify your potential customers. Think of the problems or pains faced by the people this will give you a good idea of which direction to head. Think of something unique and different from others.

Making a strategy

Once you are aware of this exact need of the people, then you can start planning what you are exactly going to develop. The developers can also create a rough prototype of the actual product to make it clear what exactly they are working on.

Decide your team

On-demand apps require a whole team. This includes the service provider, delivery team, customers support, etc. Therefore it is good to plan about all of them in advance.

Collaboration with third-party applications

In order to create a fast and reliable on-demand app, you need to make a strong collaboration with third-party apps like GPS, Social Media, and payment gateways. Without their help, you simply cannot run an on-demand app.
Social media is an optional part however it offers a wide range of benefits. As we all there is no better marketing platform than the social media and using it you can even double your sales and popularity.

Push notifications

Push notifications play a very important role. It keeps the user informed an engaged about what’s happening in the real time. No user is going to hold the phone as long as the order is delivered therefore push notifications keep them updated about the current location of the order or the estimated arrival time etc.

You can also keep your users or customers informed about the latest offers or discounts using it.

Ratings and reviews

Provide a rate and review option is crucial. Many people take the help of reviews to decide whether they want to make the purchase or not. Reviews written by users can also be used by the company to understand and make the necessary improvements if needed.

Customers Support

Customer support is another important part of an on-demand app. Solving queries and problems faced by your users is essential as it elevates the customer trust and hence a dedicated customer support team is an absolute necessity.
By following all these steps, you can create a high performing mobile app which will surely take to sky heights in the mobile app marketing field.