Category: Mobile App

In 2018, consumers will continue to spend an increasing amount of time shopping, emailing, scheduling appointments, travel planning and playing games on their mobile phones.

For savvy business owners, this means an increased demand and opportunity to deliver more mobile-first experiences to their customers. And one of the ways they’re doing this is to create apps with the purpose of making the lives of their customers and potential customers easier and more straightforward.

As a company, you want (and need) to be where your customers are. In today’s world, people are spending more time on their mobile devices than in front of their TVs, which means you have to reach your prospective customers through their mobile devices.

You can build customer loyalty by having your business “live” in your customers’ phones and engaging with them where they are already focusing their attention. In fact, the more accessible you are and the quicker consumers can interact with you, the more business you will be able to generate.

A well-designed app can boost order frequency and size by ensuring the ordering process is straightforward, fast and as timely as possible. It will also help in increasing user engagement, building loyalty, and helping customers get the most out of your products or services by supplying appropriate material, troubleshooting, and customer chats on their devices.

Most importantly, you want to ensure that your app connects you with your users and contributes to your competitive advantage over other similar businesses.

If your firm hasn’t already started to develop an app, then what are you waiting for? Here is how you and your team can build a mobile app for your business.

Step 1: Make a list of your goals.

Before embarking on this undertaking, it is vital that you and your team define what it is you want to accomplish. You want to ensure that you know what your app is going to do, how you are going to make it appeal to users, the problems it will solve, and your marketing strategy.

Step 2: Turn those ideas into visual format.

Next, you want to turn those goals and ideas into visual representations. During this step, consider whether or not you are going to offer ads to generate money, or if you are going to present it as a paid download. Consider whether any in-app purchases make sense.

Furthermore, establish who your target audience is as this will help you cull the most relevant design ideas.

Step 3: Research is king.

Once you feel comfortable and secure with your list of ideas and representations, it is time to research the competition. There is a very high probability that someone has already created a similar app, so instead of feeling deflated and giving up, take the time to analyze the competition and make your app even better.

Additionally, research any copyright restrictions and possible technical holds ups that you may come across. By identifying (and figuring out) any glitches at the beginning, you will save yourself a lot of time, energy and money.

During the research period, you can also begin to look for design ideas. While browsing for ideas, make sure you keep your target audience in mind. The visual design of your app will speak volumes to your prospective consumers.

Step 4: Now, it is time to get technical — wireframe.

At this point, it is time to get technical and begin compiling your wireframe — otherwise known as a glorified storyboard. During this step, take your sketch and design ideas and give them a little more clarity and functionality. Here is when you really develop the foundation of your app, so it is essential that you invest time and effort into this phase.

There is a selection of wireframing websites online that can assist you with this step.

Step 5: Focus attention on the back-end.

Now that you have generated a storyboard of exactly how you envision your app functioning, it is time to actually begin delving into its functionality.

Utilizing your wireframe, you must delineate your servers, APIs and data diagrams. If you have no idea what these terms mean, you should probably look into using a professional service that provides hosting and a means of collecting data regarding your app usage.

It is imperative that you generate clear diagrams as they will act as the directions for everyone working on the app. Continue to revise your wireframe should you run across any technical difficulties or make any changes.

Step 6: Call on family and friends to test

At this moment in time, you will need to open your app idea up to some constructive criticism. Show your demo to friends, family, and anyone else who is willing to give you constructive criticism. Select people whom you can trust to provide you with brutal honesty — you will thank them later.

The purpose of this step is to conclude the process of creating the structure and foundation of your app. Listen to the feedback your friends and family give you, and make revisions based on their experiences and observations.

Step 7: Get building

Now that your app’s foundation is firmly in place, you can commence the building phase! Your developer will set up your servers, databases and APIs.

While they are doing that, you should sign up for the various app stores. While all you have to do is create an account with Google Play and Apple, it can sometimes take a few days to process, so it is better to initiate it as soon as possible.

Step 8: Employ the designers.

By step number eight you want to be enlisting your designers to establish your user interface (UI). It can’t be stressed enough how important your user interface is, as users are enticed by the way things look and how easy they are to navigate.

Step 9: Another round of tests.

The second round of testing is just as imperative as the first. Earlier on, your wireframe was merely a skeleton of your app, but now your app should be both aesthetically pleasing as well as properly functioning.

A series of tests on your app in its completed form will assure you that both the look and the vibe of your app meet your vision and expectations.

It is a good idea to ask the same people who viewed your app in its development phase to examine it again. Remember, you want them to contribute constructive criticism so that you can utilize the feedback subsequently. Finally, ask your designer and your developer to initiate any changes that you believe would be beneficial to your app.

Step 10: Beta Testing time.

Now it is time to review how your app will operate in a live environment. For Android phones, you can merely upload your app file on any android device, and then test it in a live setting. From this point, you can oversee the progress of your app from your Android device.

On the other hand, iOS calls for you to utilize a platform called TestFlight to beta test your app. An advantage of this option is that you can invite testers to review your app prior to taking it live.

Step 11: You have made it to release day!

Congratulations! You have made it to the finish line! It is time to share your creation with the world!

For Android, you can, again, merely add your app to the store. It won’t be reviewed right away, and, therefore, will be instantly sold in the Google Play store. On the other hand, iOS will review your app before it goes live. This usually takes about a week.

Have you ever built a mobile app for your business? What was the process like for you? Would you do it again? Let us know in the comments!

Virtual reality is one of the most popular industry buzzwords in recent memory. At its core, virtual reality is the name for any experience that takes place within a computer-generated environment. Thanks to their digital nature, these environments can replicate our real-world surroundings, or they can represent something completely outlandish, like the surface of an alien planet.

Users can explore these environments, and engage in all manner of activities. These virtual landscapes can be accessed by means of a virtual reality headset, a type of headgear consisting of a pair of screens mounted directly in front of the eyes.

Virtual reality is not a recent invention. It has a long history dating back all the way to the late 19th century. Many attempts were made over the years to perfect the technology, with different degrees of success. Some of the highlights include:Virtual reality is not a recent invention.

It has a long history dating back all the way to the late 19th century. Many attempts were made over the years to perfect the technology, with different degrees of success. Some of the highlights include:

• The  Sword of Damocles from 1968, aptly named because it had to be suspended from the ceiling due to its weight
•  The Virtual Interactive Environment Workstation from 1979, which NASA later redesigned for use in their virtual reality installation
• The Nintendo Virtual Boy from 1995, famous for inducing motion sickness in a whole generation of impressionable kids.

To bring you up to speed with more recent developments in the world of VR, we have created a short primer on the topic, which you can find in the rest of this article.

 How VR works

There are two main types of virtual reality HMDs: those that are connected to an external devices such as PC or game console, and those that use smartphones as their central processing units. In both cases, an input device also needs to be connected to the headgear to facilitate interactions in virtual space.

VR headsets work by sending two video feeds (or a single split one in case of smartphone-based ones) to each of the displays in front of the eyes. Between the screens and the eyes, there are lenses that curve the picture to produce a stereoscopic 3D effect. ‘

In order to provide an immersive experience, VR HMDs have to provide a wide enough field of view to mimic the way we see things in real life – it has be at least 100 degrees in order to avoid tunnel-vision. The video stream also has to have a stable frame rate – preferably 90fps or more – to provide a seamless experience.

What makes using a HMD different than just walking around with a screen strapped to your face, are the embedded motion controls. As you move your head around, various tracking systems such as accelerometers and gyroscopes are used to determine your position in virtual space.

A sense of movement is also conveyed through the use of additional equipment. Motion control systems such as the Kinect allow you to use your entire body to simulate moving through VR. More complex devices such as omnidirectional treadmills can also be used to provide an authentic walking experience. These devices also allow you to interact with the VR environment in various ways. The final piece of the VR puzzle is audio. Binaural headphones can be used to provide positional 3D audio, which is essential for orienting oneself in VR.

Applications of VR

With the new generation of VR devices such as the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive Pro, and Samsung Gear VR, virtual reality is finally becoming a part of the mainstream. This upsurge in popularity was followed by a massive expansion in the ways VR is being utilized. VR is now finding use in:

Video Games

The video game industry has been promising to offer fully-immersive gaming experiences ever since the 1980s. And with the current crop of consumer-friendly VR devices, the promise is finally being fulfilled. Popular games such as Skyrim and Minecraft are now offering VR modes, and others like Beat Saber and The Invisible Hours have been designed for VR from the outset.

Cinema

Movies produced for VR allow the audience to view a virtual environment from a 360-degree angle. This gives viewers the feeling of being inside the movie itself, surrounded by the visuals and sound. Today, VR is present at major film festivals such as Sundance. Projects such as Spheres: Songs of Spacetime and The Wolves in the Walls are pushing the boundaries of film as we know it.

Music

In a similar vein, VR is allowing concert-goers to participate in events without actually being there in person. While the experience is not quite the same as being there in person, the audio-visual presentation is enough to give attendees a sense of what others are experiencing.

Psychological Research and Therapy

VR gives researchers in the field of psychology to reproduce and study human interaction in a controlled environment. Specifically, it allows them to use novel techniques of perspective-taking by embodying people in various kinds of digital avatars. VR is also being used to treat certain kinds of anxiety disorders through exposure therapy.

Medical Training

The healthcare industry has always been a big supporter of VR technology. Diagnostic images from CAT scans and ultrasounds are being used to generate 3D models of a patient’s anatomy, which are then used in VR simulations. These models can then help surgeons to determine the safest and most efficient way to locate and remove tumors, to define spots for surgical incisions, or to practice difficult surgical procedures ahead of time.

Military Exercises

The U.S. military has been using VR since the 1980s to train its fighter jet pilots. Today, soldiers use VR simulators to practice for deployment on the field. VR games like like Virtual Battlespace 2 and Unity 3D are widely used to explore different combat scenarios. These game-like simulations also allow soldiers to improve their teamwork, as well as to get to know the ins and outs of their equipment.

Conclusion

Virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize the way we use digital technology. For the first time in history, people have the ability to fully immerse themselves in a world of their own making. And who know what more advanced versions of VR tech will allow us to do in the future?

In today’s market machine learning and the associated frameworks and toolkits has made it’s way into quite a number of business concepts, eliminating the need for manual & labor-intensive tasks, and being able to make sense of huge amounts of data in almost no time compared to humans.

But while we’ve had the possibility to run neural networks on desktop computers and powerful laptops, the raw processing power of smartphones and tablets used to be too low to seriously run algorithms locally.

Therefore, building artificial intelligence into mobile applications used to be done with API requests to a more powerful processing server that ran the actual calculations, and then sent back the output data to the mobile to then act upon.

This is why we’ve divided up this list into 2 sections, one that deals with mobile specific frameworks optimized for performance and the more solid and larger frameworks designed to be advanced and powerful.

Desktop Computer Based Machine Learning Frameworks

This is the list for the normal frameworks designed to run on proper hardware, and able to handle extremely large amount of data-sets.

• Google’s TensorFlow

  Used by more than half of all machine learning projects on GitHub, this full version of TensorFlow is easily the most popular set of tools for building anything with ML capabilities. With hundreds of addons, plugins and modules from 3rd party developers, it’s possible to do almost anything with this library, including product recommendations, voice and facial recognition, object detection and more.

• Amazon Machine Learning

  Another great resource, and coming from Amazon the community is already full at work with developing tutorials, guides and other resources to help developers building complex and advanced AI. With the usual set of features for training neural networks, AML also comes ready to deploy on the AWS cloud, and has a full API for connecting with Alexa or other Amazon services. The community has also made a large number of contributions in terms of examples and addons.

• Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit

  From Microsoft, who recently opened a new 5000 man strong office dedicated solely to the advancement of         artificial intelligence, comes this powerful toolkit. Especially popular for enterprise-grade applications, all the  most popular types of neural networks, such as feed forward neural networks, recurrent- and concurrent neural networks can be developed within the same code. A number of built-in features allows for easy authentication, setup with API’s and server localisation.

• MXNet

  The first of two Apache projects on our list, MXNet is a very promising and active framework. It’s even portable meaning you can train data and run the computed sets on any Android or iOS device, as well as running on Linux and Windows computers. With more than 12,000 stars on GitHub, this is one of the most popular frameworks out there, in part because it’s possible to write in different languages such as Python, Rust, Scala, Go and JavaScript, and in part because of the large amount of community content available.

• MLlib

  Apache has been quite active in the world of AI and ML. With a number of tools and kits, this is another framework that allows programmers to build smart applications. Designed to be easy to set up on Hadoop or Apache Spark, this library can do much more than just communicate with API’s. Built with performance in mind, it’s possible to do image classification, linear regression, decision trees and much more.

Mobile Machine Learning Frameworks

• Google’s TensorFlow Lite

  The most complete solution available for free at the moment, TensorFlow Lite is designed from the start to work with Android phones, and some people have also managed to implement the framework on iOS devices. The key features are low latency for real-time image processing, the option for hardware acceleration on Android devices, and quantized kernels which makes the calculations run faster than with the full version of TensorFlow.

• Caffe2

  Originating from Caffe, described above, Caffe2 uses a modular approach to machine learning. This lite edition makes it possible to pick and choose which models and tools is needed for any given project, and thus no extra bloat is added. The main feature though is mobile deployment, allowing developers to run various different neural network computations real-time on the phones.

• Bender

  This promising framework has taken a different approach and Apple’s own Core ML. By using the iPhone’s mobile GPU shaders toolkit known as Metal Performance Shaders, the authors have added to this and allows iPhone users to run machine learning algorithms from their GPU, although it’s still mainly used for running pre-trained data, just like Core ML.

• Quantized-CNN

  As the name implies, Quantized is a framework for running concurrent neural networks. Boasting only a small loss in accuracy over the much heavier frameworks built for computers, Quantized offers a lightweight solution for image classification running fully on the device.

• Apple’s Core ML

  With the popularity for machine learning and mobile applications, Apple launched their Core ML library which allows mobile app developers to train models on powerful computers, and then save the training models on the phone and run their optimized version there.

Conclusion

For now it appears most large corporations still use API calls to communicate with powerful servers and only send the minimal amount of information back to the smartphone to calculate.

So while we’re seeing some lite editions specifically optimized for mobile phones and tablets, we are probably still a few years away from powerful processors capable of running every calculation locally.

Author :– Mark has been developing for the web since 2001, always with a penchant for open-source technologies such as PHP. Since 2010 he has been working full time with app development, these days being employed at nodesagency , a leading European app agency. He also regularly contributes to WordPress and other open-source projects.

Mobile apps are no longer just limited to corporations or businesses in specific industries. Startups and small businesses are now also joining the fray as entrepreneurs are starting to realize that having a general website is no longer enough to create and establish an online presence. A mobile app can be advantageous for businesses, regardless of its size or industry.

Here are a few reasons why your business needs a mobile app.

Enhances visibility

Data derived in 2016 showed that on average, Americans spend approximately an hour and a half on their mobile devices on a daily basis. Although users normally make use of only a few applications a day, they will come across each app on a daily basis as they still have to scroll and scan through the list before accessing one. Increasing exposure time, however small and subtle, can make it easier for customers to remember a brand.

Advertises products and services

Business mobile apps make it easier for businesses to provide leads and potential customers with the information they need to make a decision. This includes basic information about the company, the latest news, search services, access to user accounts, and messaging options. If you own an online store, you can use the app to showcase all the products and services that your business offers and their respective prices. Push notifications can also be designed to let people know about upcoming deals or promotions.

Builds the brand

There are no strict guidelines when it comes to creating a mobile app. Think of it as your company’s business card. The information on it, how it looks, and how the app works all create a lasting impression. If you already have a website, your app can strengthen your brand’s image. You can make the app look trendy, serious or in a style that is consistent with the brand’s image.

Improves interaction with consumers

Brands can use their apps to develop a relationship with their target market. This includes promoting the brand, selling the product, handling after-sales concerns, and even providing rewards to loyal customers.

Both your brand and your market can benefit from using an app. Consumers can use the app’s built-in messenger or chat feature to quickly send a message to the company. No need for them to write a detailed email or call the hotline to find answers to their questions.

Apps offer consumers a direct line to your business. They can let you know what your business is doing right and which areas you need to improve on. Any positive feedback can be used as a testimonial for your site. With negative feedback, you can use the app to quickly deal with the issue before the dissatisfied individual goes public with his or her complaint.

Helps acquire market data

App users can provide entrepreneurs with information that can be beneficial for the business. The data can provide more information on the demographics of your market. It can also help entrepreneurs identify what the strengths and weaknesses of the business and the app are, and what your customers’ needs are, and identify other potential business opportunities.

Broadens your brand’s reach

The mobile user market is a sector that cannot be ignored. Approximately 95 percent of Americans own a cellphone or a mobile device. Although a large percentage of users are using their devices to learn more about a brand, an increasing number of consumers are also expecting businesses to develop apps that will make the experience of purchasing online more convenient. Integrating your business app with an online marketing strategy and social media profiles will allow your brand to broaden its reach, especially when it comes to the younger market.

Boosts traffic

Google and Apple app stores receive millions of visits on a daily basis.  Well-designed apps with links to your website can help generate additional traffic. Plus, from an SEO standpoint, developing a mobile app for your business is a way to get backlinks from reputable sites.

Generates revenue

Developing apps can also be used to generate additional revenue for the business. There are two ways of doing this. One is by allowing ads inside the app – businesses can earn whenever the ad is clicked. Another way is to create a free and a paid version of the app. The paid version could include premium content or features. They can also be designed to be free of ads.

There are many advantages to having an app developed. An app can help broaden your business’s reach, develop relationships with your customers, and increase sales. They are relatively inexpensive to try out and can bring the brand closer to its target market.

Author Bio

Ayham Gorani

Director, Alpha-Apps FZ LLC

Fueled by the firm belief that the Arab World has great potential and great content, Ayham founded AlphaApps in 2011 in Abu Dhabi. His goal is to bring the Arabic apps industry and content forward to an international and competitive level. He is also a start-up mentor at Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi, helping entrepreneurs launch successful app projects and investing in app companies in the region.

App designing is an ardent task and contrastingly gaining loyalty is not a daunting task. Designers face various hindrances to design and launch apps.

All ventures to promote the existence of any app by app owners and other such people have resulted only in less success. The problems do not come to a stop even after the apps are downloaded as statistics show that nearly 26% of apps which were installed where availed only once. 

A majority of the mobile apps require users to register with the apps in order to avail the features. Registration is done via social media accounts, email etc.

Some processes are simple while others are complicated. Making use of social media accounts by users to register for any app smoothens the process and makes it simple and reliable.

Guidelines to enhance user registration:

The process of registration is not necessary for all the apps present. Featured are some apps which mandate the users to sign up in order to access all the functionalities of the app, especially in the case of Payment apps.

Many apps permit users to avail the app but for further use, they ask for registration. App designers are striving to build an app which transforms a new visitor into a prospective user of the app.

App owners and designers have to ascertain the fact that they will profit only when the users avail the functionalities of the app frequently.

The following methods enhance customer loyalty regarding any app 

Simplifying registration:

The app developer must design the app in a way such that the process is not extended too long and that it does not ask for important data. The apt registration form must be basic and ask only the fundamental details of the user.

In the case of financial apps, only the necessary basic details must be asked to be furnished.

Defining Call to action

This aspect is the most vital component with regards to registration, however, most of the app developers don’t design the apps such that the call to action button is unique from the other buttons and that it stands out from others.

Call to action can be made to be identified instantly to the user by implementing bigger fonts, attractive colors and apt position.

Implementing Pop-up forms

Implementing a distinct signup page would provide hindrances to users when registering in the app. The designers must make use of a modal window with respect to registration.

It then permits users to finish the process quickly without them going away from the homepage or getting diverted by some other links or components in the website.

Making Assurances:

Assurances have to be implemented depending upon the functionality of the app. For instance, when the app is integrated with money transfer, it should guarantee that the app won’t reveal the confidential details.

By implementing guarantees, the number of app users pertaining to a given app is bound to grow.

Providing incentives:

Providing incentives for the users when they register for an app will enlarge the number of prospective users. Providing such deals will motivate the visitors to become regular users of the app.

Right time to register:

Analyzing and identifying the best time for users to register regarding any app is the most daunting task among the app designers and owners.

In the event of a registration process going awry or registering at the wrong time, the users are prone to discard the app and search for other apps. The app designers must carry out exhaustive tests to gauge the right time for users to register with the app.

The apt sign-up process

The ideal registration depends upon the simplicity and user-friendliness regarding it rather than other factors.The best way to register is via social accounts, which is quite simple in functionality for both sides.

Provided the user has registered via social accounts, the app owners can get hold of the needed data without any hassles. Further, it should be incorporated with traits defining privacy and security to stop any invasion from intruders.

Annoying user registration process

A bad registration process annoys the users by bombarding them with lots of questions related to registration. Registration must not be the first thing that users encounter when accessing an app for the first time.

Some space of time must be provided prior to registration. The designers must assess the apt time for registration purpose by carrying out various trials and tests in real life setting.