Android One: Everything One Must Know About

At the earlier Google I/O developer event, Sundar Pichai, Google’s senior vice president for Android, Chrome and Apps, has promised that they will unveil a pure android experience at affordable prices. Finally, they stand by their words by releasing Android One smartphone, the most debated topics in the last few days. Smartphones are already on sale in India. So, it’s a perfect time for you to explore the details of Android One. What it is, what it contains, which benefits it brings to you at what price.

Here is a sufficient read for anyone, looking to purchase an android device and for android app development company, looking to create great apps for next Android devices.

Android One: What it is?

Android One, a smartphone or a new family of Android devices or an initiative from Google, entered with an aim to help smartphone makers to create quality Android products at affordable prices. Android one devices are pure android experience, running the latest version of Android (Android v4.4.4 KitKat). Android one smartphone gets software updates directly from Google and comes with a hardware package tuned for Android.

Benefits for Users

1. Quick and Constant Updates: All the softwares of Android One smartphones are in the hands of Google. Google is fully responsible to manage them all, so like Nexus, Android one devices also run the latest Android version. Being in the hands of Google, they will receive constant updates as quickly as possible.
2. Affordable Price: As promised by Sundar Pichai, Android One is actually an affordable smartphone with a price around $100 and high quality functions for users, looking for good quality at low-budget.
3. Selected and Certified Hardware Package: This is the great news for those, worrying about crappy components inserted in cheap priced smartphones. Google has already prepared a pre-vetted list of hardware components. The final device will contain hardware elements selected from this list only. There is no place for outside elements in Android one smartphones. Google has future plans to increase the number of elements in the list and deliver lots options for manufacturer’s and android app development company to choose from.
4. Data Benefits: Google has tied-up with Airtel to provide 200 MB free data for six months to users of Android one smartphones. Users are allowed to download apps from Google play store and other android updates, exist within the next six months. For update downloads, Google has placed a limit of 100 MB.

Specifications

• Display: 4.5 Inch IPS Display
• Screen Resolution: FWVGA (854x480p)
• Processor: 1.3 GHz MediaTek quad-core MT6582 processor
• RAM: 1GB
• OS: Android 4.4.4 Kitkat
• Rear Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: 2MP
• Flash: LED Flash
• Sim Support: Dual Sim
• 3G: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Bluetooth: Yes
• GPS: Yes
• FM Radio: Yes
• Internal Storage: 4GB
• MicroSD Card Slot: Yes
• Battery: 1700 mAh

Current Availability

At presents, three Android One smartphones are available for sale:

• Micromax Canvas A1
• Spice Dream Uno
• Karbonn Sparkle V

Google has also partnered with HTC, Lava, Intex, Acer, ASUS, Alcatel Onetouch, Xolo, Lava, Panasonic, and Lenevo with a plan to release next Android one smartphone with them, in upcoming months.

After-sales Service and Support

The particular company will provide after-sales service and support for your Android one smartphone. For instance, you have purchased Spice Dream Uno; the Spice Company will be responsible for after-sales service and support.

By the end of 2014, Google has more plans for Android one to explore with Indonesia, Philippines, and other South Asian countries. While in India, more devices from more companies will enter in the coming months.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Everything You Must Know About

Apple has given a smart reply to successful Android devices with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Finally, Apple is going to launch its devices with bigger screen, everybody is waiting for. However, the company also risks detaching people who love small screen devices. Besides screen, Apple has brought lots of changes to its new models which you must know to get a good reason for why you should or should not purchase iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Comparison between Old and New Models in terms of Design and Size

Screen Size: Let’s start from the very basic with screen size. iPhone 6 measures 4.7 inches and iPhone 6 Plus measures 5.5 inches, while older iPhone models measure up to 4 inches only.

Pixels: It is understandable that bigger sizes bring more pixels for you. iPhone 6 offers 1334 by 750 at a pixel-density of 326 per inch and iPhone 6 Plus has a resolution of 1920 by 1080, with a pixel-density of 401 per inch. It may look huge in front of iPhone 5s, having a resolution of 1136 by 640 pixels with 326 pixels per inch.

Retina HD: Screens of iPhone 6 models are dubbed with “Retina HD”, already used in iPad Air, iPad Mini and MacBook Pro. Well, it was absent in previous iPhone models.

Screen Resistant: New iPhone screens are made of “ion-strengthened glass”, not of sapphire (rumored). Ion-strengthened glass makes the screen more resistant to scratches and shatters, unlikely in previous generation models.

Physical Design: Physical designs of new iPhones are completely different from the old ones. You will miss the flat sides and chamfered edges as new models are quite thinner with smooth rounded edges and a Unibody appearance.

• iPhone 6: 6.9mm
• iPhone 6 Plus: 7.1mm
• iPhone 5s: 7.6mm

Sleep/Wake Button: No, not on top, but the sleep/wake button is located on the right-hand edge of the new iPhones.

A Brief Look on Insides

Processor: New iPhone are made of A8, a powerful 64-bit processor, resulting in 25% higher CPU performance, 50% improved graphics performance and 50% increase in battery efficiency.

Camera:

• 8 Megapixels
• True Tone Flash
• 1.5-Micron Pixels
• f/2.2 Aperture

According to Apple, iPhone 6 camera uses a new sensor, taking better photos than the previous one. “Focus Pixels” and “New Image Single Processor” are built with A8 chip, allowing phase-detection auto-focus – focus will be two times faster than iPhone 5s.

Battery Life: With larger size, obviously, you will see large battery as compared to iPhone 5s. A slight improvement is noticed with the battery life of iPhone 6 and the more with iPhone 6 Plus.

Wireless Capacity: Both the iPhone models support 802.11ac Wi-Fi, three times faster than Wi-Fi in iPhone 5s. LTE (4G mobile communication standard) is also faster, delivering a speed of up to 150mbps. Moreover, the new models include NFC (near-field communication) circuitry which allows you to use the models to purchase items using new Apple technology: Apple Pay.

VoLTE: Something New with New Phones
VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE. Instead of using your cellular voice, VoLTE uses your internet connection for voice calls. VoLTE offers phone calls with clear sounding and also allows you to use voice and data simultaneously. Standard phone calls are possible with Wi- Fi as VoLTE works great with Wi-Fi connection. You can use Wi-Fi connection of your home or office for calls and, if you leave during the continue call, your call will automatically switch to VoLTE. VoLTE is supported by T-Mobile in the US and EE in the U.K. It is expected that the system will expand more to other countries in future.

Motion Coprocessor: If you remember, iPhone 5s comes with M7 (motion coprocessor), a chip points to handling data of many sensors including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. With new models, Apple introduces M8 that takes the advantage of new barometer sensor to determine altitude changes with the help of measuring air pressure changes.

Overall Performance: A8 processor, M8 motion coprocessor, etc., all are proving that iPhone 6 models are identical in terms of performance. Regarding performance, everything will be just more than iphone 5s or other previous iPhone models.

Conclusion

iPhone 5s and 5c released with minor changes from previous models, but iPhone 6 models enter with major changes than the previous one. Few things are similar while many things are different with improved features. This is also going to be a great opportunity for iPhone app development companies as they can think of developing something new that please iphone 6 users.

10 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring Android App Developers

Android is a booming sector, a business can’t ignore anymore. It is spreading like a wildfire in every field. Businesses with different categories can create an android app to ease the access for their customers using android device. But to get a great android app developed is quite a difficult process, surrounded by implications and challenges. The first step towards android project is to find a right android app developer who can deliver the project based on your requirements.

While searching for a right android app developer, you will meet with many or it may confuse you about which one you should choose. What you have to do at this stage, ask some questions from developers and notify the answers given by them. Here are those important questions, you should ask and notify the response of developers.

1. How Much Does It Cost to Create An Android App?

Most of app development companies or developers offer a free quote before you handle them the project. Ask them the total amount of project with surety that no extra expenses will occur in future, until you add any additional feature. After having a quote from different developers, don’t choose the one offering the cheapest price. Instead, go for the one with reasonable price, security and expertise.

2. How Much Time Will It Take to Get the App Ready?

Average android app development cycle takes 2-6 months for completion. Ask from the developers about the total time they take to complete the project. Only experienced and expert android app developers will ensure you completion of a project within a short or average time.

3. What are Your Qualifications and Experience?

Make sure that your selected android developer is qualified and experienced in the same field. An experienced developer will understand your needs and your aim behind creating an android app. He will also suggest you more options to enhance the app functionality.

4. Have You Ever Built A Similar Kind of Application?

Experienced developers always have a list of apps, they created earlier. No need to check them all, ask them if they have ever built an app similar to your concept. If they have built a similar app, check the one; see the ratings, reviews and the number of downloads. Their successful app records will increase your chances of successful completion of projects.

5. Do You Have References?

To be more assured about the developer, ask him/her to give you a reference for contact. Have a talk with their previous clients and ask them whether they are satisfied with the work or not.

6. What will be Your Security Measures to Protect My App Concept and Coding?

Your app idea is worth of a million dollar. It should be kept secure. App developer must ensure you that the idea will not steal and all of its coding will remain safe or should not be reused on other projects. Inquire the measures he/she take to do so.

7. What will you do to ensure the User Interface Will Be a Perfect Fit for Multiple Android Devices?

There are hundreds of android devices available in the market. Each device has its own hardware profile. Along with concentrating on the platform, experienced android app developers are also focusing on hardware of various devices. Ask your developer about how he takes care of multiple android devices.

8. How Will You Test My App?

Some developers test the app using some online tools, but a real test is possible only when it is used on a smartphone like a user. Inquire about the process of testing and make sure that their testing is done using a smartphone, not tools.

9. How Often Will You Discuss About Project?

Regular updates regarding the project are necessary to know to make sure that everything is going in a right direction. Fix a time in a week when the developer contact you to let you know about the activities, taking place in your project.

10. How Should I Access the Code?

You can see the code every time it is updated if you have a code access. Get the access code from your developer to check the updates on a regular basis.

You are ultimately responsible for your project. Of course, your developer will deliver you the best ever android app, but at some level you have to take care of it. The questions are designed to help you get the best developer at the best budget for a new beginning of your business with your android app, and continue with the same to reach the success.

Important Things You Should Be Aware Of Before Having Mobile App Development

For an individual or a business person, it is easier to get into app development field. Thanks to technologies and mobile application developer who made it possible for everyone to enter the app stores with the stunning app. Because of the ease of creating an app for own store, companies or brands are penetrating into the app development industry to increase their potential or to have a steady source of income or to have a mobile optimized store for their mobile users. You can also turn your app concept into a steady stream of income, but before jumping into the app world, some important factors are needed to take care of to make your dream come true.

Here is the list of certain important aspects one should be aware of before committing to mobile app development.

1. Platform Choice: The most popular platforms are iOS and Android. Creating an app for single platform leads to selection of any one of them, quite difficult decision to take. Most businesses prefer to develop an app for both platforms as they both are beneficial in their own ways. But if you wish to keep the cost down at the beginning and want to select a single platform for your app, consider the below given facts to take a right platform decision.

• iOS drives higher sales and revenue (especially from eCommerce)
• Android retains higher app engagement than iOS
• Android dominates 84.7% of total smartphone market share
• iOS apps are being more purchased and downloaded than Android apps

2. Native App or Web App: Native app works like software while a web app works similar to a browser. If you are going to build an app that needs to have access to some hardware profile like camera, barcode scanner, GPS, etc., you should go for native app and if you want to deliver a mobile optimized experience of your existing website, you should go for web app.

Native App V/s Web App

Native app delivers better mobile experience than a web app. Native app swipes faster and takes minimum loading time. It behaves according to the hardware profile, a device has. On the other hand, web app lets you avoid website complexity and reduce the platform issues as it is compatible with all platforms.

3. Mobile App Development Cost: App development cost depends on the features and functions you want to integrate into your app. A basic app costs you around $10,000 while, an app with advance features may cost $15,000 – $20,000 and more. Mobile app development cost also depends on factors like which platform you choose, whether it’s single platform app or multi-platform app, native app or web app, etc. After deciding the platform and the type of app, chart out the list of features and ask the developer for how much it will cost.

4. Proper Legal Agreement: A proper legal agreement with all the necessary details, terms and conditions should be there between you and your developer. It ensures that your developer would not abandon anything already decided before.

5. Paid App or Free App: In case of paid app, keep the price between 0.99$ and $1.99. Try to offer special discounts or offers on festivals. In case of free app, think of the ways how you can make it a source of income like in-app purchases, ads, etc. Ask your developer, how he would involve such features in your app and how you will get the maximum benefit out of it.

6. App Testing: No matter how promising your app seems if any minor functionality problem found in it, users will deny installing it. Confirm the testing process from mobile application testing company before signing a contract with him. The testing process must be consist of functionality tests, feature tests, audio video playback tests, script compatibility, libraries and other calculations, the app contain.

7. App Promotion: It’s not only about having a cool app; it is about how to put the app on the top spot. App promotion helps your app to get easily discovered by your targeted audience. Many developers offer app promotion services to let your app grow up at a fast pace. Or at least they have some ideas on how to give a boost to the app on app stores. Have a talk for such matter with the developer and gain extreme knowledge for the same.

A hard work is involved to follow the above steps in a right manner. Once you are done, you will become able to enjoy a steady stream of users and revenue as well. You can think further about how to improve your app and how to open more ways to earn more revenue from it.

Essential Qualities of Highly Successful iPhone App Development Company

At one side, businesses are looking for trendy ways to promote their products and services through iPhone app development. While on the other side, iPhone app development companies are promoting themselves to catch the attention of such type of businesses. If you are also one of them who want to create an iPhone app to promote your business, you need to take care of some essential factors like your own budget and an efficient and experienced company that can deliver you reliable mobility solution. Before you start your search, read about the essential qualities of successful iPhone app development company to ensure the highest level of success with your project.

Proven Record of Successful Projects

Great companies have a portfolio of their successful iPhone app development projects. You have to check out their portfolio, their apps and Apple app stores from where one can install the app. You don’t need to install it; instead, you have to look through the reviews, ratings and feedbacks received by the apps. This will prove you the level of success achieved by the company.

Flexibility and Agility to Adopt New Technology

Only having a successful history of past projects doesn’t mean that in future also, the company will release great apps. Successful iPhone companies have a passion to create innovative apps each time. And to fulfil their passion, they have a habit of learning new techniques and implement them to raise the overall performance of their iPhone apps. Great iPhone companies are saturated with such type’s developers.

Deliver Competitive Advantage

Look out for the companies that treat your project not just like a project, but like a serious business investment. They must understand a clear goal of your business and how an iPhone app should be created to fill the needs of your business and your users as well. Then only your app will come along with huge opportunities for you.

Collaborative Interaction

If you want to get satisfactory results, don’t leave your project once you hand it over the company. Create a collaborative interaction with the developers to receive project updates. It is also necessary to boost the creativity of developers by making them aware of your prior business goals required to achieve through iPhone app.

User-friendly Design

Mobile app can achieve a great success if and only if it delivers a great user experience and contains user-friendly designs. An app design should not be too complicated to confuse the users. It must be attractive to grab the immediate attention of users and simple also, to let the user understand the functions it contains. Confirm with companies, whether they are able to create such type of app that offers a rich user experience.

Familiar with Market and Customer Segments

Great companies remain familiar with current iPhone market trends and customer segments. Inquire from developers what the current trend expects from an iPhone app and what will they do to satisfy their expectations.

Conclusion

The above mentioned qualities are certainly valuable and essential to have for being a successful iPhone app development company. Searching for top app development companies with such qualities will increase your chances of getting a best app built for your business and most importantly, for your users.

Android L – What Is New For Android App Developers

Finally, the next version of Android revealed with a name Android L. This time it exists with a new objective of making use of the same software across different devices – desktops, smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, etc. With the next version, Android has enhanced the new features and capabilities for android app developers by offering everything they need to develop, test and showcase their creativity in their next Android app. Here are some reflect on what’s new for developers.

New Material Design Style for Multiscreen
Android L introduced a far-reaching approach to visual, motion and interactive designs for multiple platforms. It brings up material design with a full set of tools to help you create your app for multi-device world. Material design allows your app to reveal its individuality and brand with bold colors,  mixture of responsive patterns and themed elements.

Enhanced Way to Surface Notifications

• Lockscreen Notifications – make your content, updates and other actions appear to users, without unlocking.
• Visibility Controls – helps you manage various types of information you want to display.
• Heads-up Notifications – small floating window displays your content, updates and other actions.

Improved Recent Screen
App can now be organized by tasks and you can present such tasks as an individual document in recent screen. Users easily reach to your app by jumping on specific task they want.

News Tools and APIs
New tools and APIs let you run your app more efficiently and conservatively. With the Battery Historian tool, you can visualize power events and understand the way your app is using battery. You can also set various conditions like background tasks and other jobs using the Job Scheduler tool.

Bluetooth Broadcasting
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) peripheral mode adds a capability in your app to broadcast the presence of nearby devices. Your app becomes able to transmit data to another BLE device.

Multi-network Connections
Your app can create a connection with multiple available networks along with auto-connect functions and other specific capabilities.

Camera API
Image capture and processing features can be enhanced with a new camera API. It allows your app for uncompressed YUV capture with 8 megapixel resolution at 30 FPS (supported devices only). Additionally, it captures raw sensor data and control parameters – ISO sensitivity, frame duration, exposure time, etc.

New Set for Game Developers
You can add compute shaders, stencil textures, and texture gather in your gaming app. Android Extension Pack (AEP) brings desktop-class graphics to the Android, allowing games to make the use of tessellation and geometric shaders, and texture compression across multiple GPU technologies.

Android Run-time (ART)
ART improves development and debugging features, makes garbage collection more efficient, and offers AOT (ahead-of-time) compilation. Sometimes, it improves device performance without any additional support from developers.

64-bit Support
Android L comes up with the support of 64-bit ABIs, enabling additional address space and performance improvements with compute workloads. Java based apps can now run immediately without any modification issues.

Overall, Android L brings the set of new features and functionalities required by android application developers to improve the personality of android app, making them perform more smoothly like never before.

Essential Resources To Develop a Mobile App using PhoneGap Framework

Starting from tools to developer flow, all you need to get aware of, before you begin with mobile app development using phonegap framework. You need to wrap up with the insights into the work flow for phonegap app development. Sure, you have read starter guides, but to really get underway, first you need to gather information of proper work flow and resources to maintain such. In this post, you will read about resources – essential to develop a mobile app with phonegap.

Coding Environment

First and foremost, you must create a coding environment with the help of basic tools require to get started off. For this, you must understand that for which platform you are going to develop your app. Like whether its iOS, Android or both or anything else. Examine such, help you get a good choice of tools.

Extensive IDEs

IDEs needed when you are going to deploy something locally to devices, that is without phonegap build (a cloud based service built on the top of phonegap framework). There is a different IDE for each platform – Eclipse for Android, Xcode for iOS, Visual Studio for Windows, and so on. Using symlinks, you can easily share your source code across various IDE installations.

Lightweight Editors

Adobe Edge Code is a popular editor for quick editing. And for live editing in the browser Edge Code (an open source HTML/JS editor) is mostly used. Inline editors are also required for CSS styles, it allows you to edit without leaving your current HTML files. All these are lightweight editors as they are easy to use.

Designer-centric Editors

You must search for editors that are designer-friendly, they must contain all essential features for designing. One of such editor is Dreamweaver. It delivers an incredible programming environment along with WYSIWYG editor for HTML. Additionally, it featured with integrated PhoneGap Build. Many phonegap developers continue to use Dreamweaver for better web experience.

Debugging Tools

Of course, Phonegap is of cross-platform nature that leverage native web views for each and every platform. To maintain a good quality of your PhoneGap based mobile app, you need run debugging tools in a tricky way. Among the PhoneGap community, PhoneGap Emulator is a primary debugging tool for all types of PhoneGap apps. Built on top of Chrome, it allows you to utilize developer tools by Chrome.

On-Device Debugging

For a successful cross-platform mobile app, on-device testing is crucial. You must be sure that your app is performing well on all those devices and platforms – you have targeted while creating a mobile app. Platforms like iOS and Blackberry offers you developer tools to remotely debug live content on the device.

Conclusion

Apart from the above resources, lots and lots more are there to work with. These resources differ on the basis of platform – iOS, Android, Windows, etc. – for which you want to create your app. Availing such resources help you create a path of least resistance towards your aim of creating a successful mobile application using phonegap.

Essential Tools To Develop a Killer iPhone App

Online tools for iphone app development, minimize your work and efforts, also save your lots of time. But the overwhelming quantity of tools put you in puzzle for which one you must adopt. Installing each and every tool to know which is better for iphone app is a time consuming process. Once you alight on correct tools, it becomes difficult for you to keep a track of them, their updates and daily introduced modern tools. What professionals are doing is they make a list of useful tools, but what about those which are newly introduced to the market and proven to be advanced than the previous one. To create a wow iphone app, you must keep yourself updated with modern tools and techniques.

While some tools are also there which you always need to create a killer iphone app, here is the list of all.

iOS Dev Center

If you are an expert iOS developer, you must be aware of this, if not, you have to keep yourself aware of iOS dev center. Its a first step of every iOS developer towards iPhone app. This center has guides, samples of codes, technical notes in bulk for you. You can acquire a wealth of knowledge for iphone app development at this center.

iPhone Toolbox

This toolbox is a resource to obtain iphone stuff like iphone applications, wallpapers, icons, and much more. Not only stuff, it delivers daily news and updates crop up in iOS development world.

Go Mocking Bird

An online tool helps you manage mockups of your iphone apps by easing off your work to create, link together, preview and share mockups.

Glyphish

A place where you can obtain a multitudinous set of icons for retina display in iphone and ipad. This tool is widely used for toolbars, tab bars, table rows and button in iOS.

PhoneGap

You can create mobile apps using standardized web APIs on the platform you wish to, with PhoneGap – a free and open source framework. It supports HTML, CSS and Javascript languages – the best choice for cross-platform mobile apps.

Snippets

A powerful application that keep and manage your code for reuse. It makes the reusable coding process as simple as it can to cut down your time wastage for writing the same code again and again in different projects.

Stack Overflow

Freshers or developers with little knowledge are surrounded by massive questions. Experienced developers are surrounded by answers to that questions. Stack overflow is a question and answer site where almost all your questions are answered in a descriptive way. You can join it to increase your knowledge for iphone apps.

Applyzer

An app doesn’t end with the launch, it needs lots of things to do. One of the most important thing is app analysis. It is necessary because you want to analyze user’s behavior among your app, app performance, reviews, ratings and much more. Applyzer helps you analyze the same in an effective manner.

iTunes Connect Mobile

iTunes Connect mobile lets you know a detailed statistics of your iphone app on the app store. You can also check sales reports on this.

Conclusion

These tools help you at each stage of your iphone app development process – from idea to distribution and marketing as well. iPhone app development company utilize these tools at max to decrease the scope of app failure. You can also do the same by performing your app actions on the above mentioned tools.