5 Android Apps for the Business Users

In late 2012, official industry figures confirmed that smart phone shipments in 2012 had surpassed PC sales worldwide by a significant margin. The reason for this change of the devices market is evident from increased implementation of BYOD (bring your own device) program in multiple industry segments including software development. This increase of devices had led to the availability of a wide range of apps, whose introduction was driven by the user’s desire for improved functionality. Thousands of new mobile apps are available for the wide range of Android tablets and phones that have flooded the market in recent years. Though a majority of the apps are targeted at users pursuing leisure-related activities through the devices, some are ideal for enhancing employee productivity while on the road. Here are top five Android apps for the mobile worker apart from EverNote, which has already been discussed by many others:

Scatterslides

Though there are various options which allow you to make presentations through smart phones, Scatterslides is specially designed to operate seamlessly with Android systems. Using this app, you can connect your Android tablet or smart phone to large projectors using Wi-Fi, providing you with greater mobility. Moreover, you can just swipe your mobile screen to move from slide to slide, while making the presentation to a large audience. Support previewing of slides on your phone and is compatible with OpenOffice Impress and Microsoft PowerPoint files. This app is available on payment of a nominal monthly/weekly subscription charge. 

Bump      

If you have been working in the Sales and Marketing division of a company, you might be tired to swapping business cards with prospects and unable to keep track of all those cards that you have received in the last month. In this situation, give Bump a try. You can literally bump two phones together to swap contact information or photos between the phones. However be careful and don’t get overzealous while bumping expensive pieces of equipment, as that can have undesirable consequences. The app is compatible with iPhones and available for free.

GDocs and Google Voice

The old saying goes that when elephants fight, the grass suffers - thankfully we are just users. As a result of the Google vs. Apple fight, Android users have received Google Voice. The app allows you to use proprietary Google chat and international calling services at minimum expenses, which has left many iPhone users red-faced. If you often access documents stored on the cloud, GDocs is the way to go. This Android app allows you to access your documents from the cloud using your mobile internet connection. Currently in its beta stage of development, GDocs allows you to view and edit text files, spreadsheets and PDF files as well as syncing any changes made to the original file. Though at present it lacks any advanced formatting options, the possibilities for this app are excellent. Both these apps are available for free.

Documents to Go

This application allows you to view as well as MS-Office documents including files created using the 2007 version files using an intuitive interface. Additional functionality of the app includes support for viewing PDF files. Users have a choice between the paid or the free version of the application. The free version of Documents to Go offers limited functionality, as it only allows viewing of email attachments received on the Android device. 

Locale

Locale is definitely not your typically business app, but it can definitely help out office workers in numerous ways. Locale is available for free and uses the GPS locator in your Android tab or phone to track your movements and automatically take appropriate actions such as activating the vibrate mode, while in office or switching the ringer on, when you are back home. The app is proactive in another respect – battery power conservation. When power conservation mode is activated, the app automatically switches on/off functions such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to help conserve battery power. These are just some among the thousands of Android apps that are suitable for business users of Android devices.   

This was a guest post by Abhishek. Abhishek is currently working with eXtendCode, an Software Company India, which provides software solutions such as Java Application Development, Open Source Application Development, Data Base Solutions, Mobile Application Development and Quality Assurance Services etc. For More Information visit: http://www.extendcode.com/

Enterprise Mobility Drivers in 2013

                                                                                     Summary

Since the early days of mobile devices, enterprise mobility has improved considerably, leading more and more organizations to introduce as well as support the use of mobile devices for the purposes of work. However, we are only scratching the surface of the many possibilities regarding future trends of this evolving market. In this article, some of the trends expected to drive mobility in the year 2013 are discussed.

Enterprise Mobility is Here to Stay

The technology market evolves rapidly and the enterprise mobility market has evolved rapidly in the past few years. Yet a lot still needs to happen in order to make sure that new technologies in the field are integrated to further benefit users as well as organizations alike. The cornerstone of mobility is an always connected approach, which ensures that employees have maximum on-the-go productivity. Following are some of the key trends, which are expected to drive the growth of enterprise mobility across various industries:

Easy Availability of High Speed Mobile Internet

The always connected requirement for enterprise mobility is greatly dependant on the availability of high speed mobile internet in even the most remote locations. The arrival of cheaper and faster data plans on the 3G and 4G platforms would definitely provide a much required boost to the acceptance of mobility solutions by key users such as sales persons and customer service providers operating from remote locations. Many companies already understand the need for updating records as soon as possible, but are limited by the availability of suitable infrastructural support required for deriving maximum utility from such apps. As newer technologies penetrate into and expand the mainstream wireless market, the enterprise mobility market will continue to expand. 

Increased Introduction of “Pay as You Go” Data Plans

Mobile Internet plans have already become cheaper in 2012, however high speed data plans such as 3G and 4G plans, which are preferred by corporate entities continue to be prohibitively expensive. In 2013, carriers all over the world especially those in the emerging economies are expected to rationalize their pricing strategies to help boost the data usage on mobile devices. Such a trend is expected to emerge as a key driver for further large-scale acceptance of business mobility initiatives.

Introduction of More Mobile Only Apps       

Many leading Software Development Companies are already focused on the development of mobile apps that are targeted at improving mobile productivity of the corporate user. This trend is expected to continue in 2013, leading to further growth of the mobile apps market. The “mobile only” development trend is often considered to be a direct result of the consumerism of IT (CoIT) trend catching up with the mobility market. In the face of continued mobile adoption increase, this mobile-only approach is definitely going the impact the overall mobility market in 2013 and beyond. In fact in 2012, we have already witnessed a significant increase in the presence of business apps in the leading apps stores and with increased demand along with availability of new technologies even more such apps are expected to be available in the recent future.

Introduction of BlackBerry 10 - The Re-Defined Edition

The much delayed and anticipated BlackBerry 10 OS is expected to hit the mainstream smart phone market in early 2013. The initial reviews by leading vendors have been quite positive and the market has rallied by strengthening Research In Motion’s (RIM) share prices. In 2013, RIM is also planning to introduce new subscription plans to rope in new customers to use its encrypted and highly protected corporate services. If RIM is successful in providing customers with the experience they desire, it is certain that the overall enterprise mobility market will benefit. Even though Android and iPhone/iOS devices are definitely more popular among users, if BlackBerry can once again re-invent itself as a cool device, it is sure to continue dominating the enterprise market in 2013. A renewed interest in the platform would also ensure that leading software development companies and vendors once again start developing BlackBerry Apps, which were once the market leaders and may still one day be the apps of choice for the corporate user. 

The Market will Continue to Evolve in 2013

The trends mentioned above are only indicative and by no means exhaustive. Many other factors can and will affect the market and force it to evolve to changing requirements. One thing is for certain – this market will continue to be exciting and analysts will continue to watch its developments closely in 2013. Further maturity of the market is bound to aid increased acceptance by users of various mobile tools designed to improve the average user’s mobility.

For More Detail About Software Development and Mobile Application Development Visit: http://www.extendcode.com/

eXtendCode - Mobile Application Development Company

Mobile-Only Apps: A Radical Shift in Mobile Application Development

Summary

In recent times, enterprises and software developers are waking up to the reality that mobile devices have smaller screens and the apps designed for a desktop is just not right for use on a smart phone. This article discusses some of the factors driving mobile-only development as well as some of the challenges ahead for mobile apps developers all over the world.

Mobile Apps Development Needed a Makeover

Anyone familiar with using a smart phone to surf the internet would tell you that many websites are still a pain to handle. Not only is there a problem with the amount of flash objects on many pages, there is also a problem with finding stuff on the page. Users are forced to separately zoom into each section of the page till they find the relevant information and it takes a lot of time as well as effort to achieve the desired results. With this in mind some companies started designed mobile versions of their website and the trend caught on. Currently we have many mobile-only web pages for checking emails, banking statements etc. The same trend is now being observed in case of enterprise applications.

As with any technology market, the Mobile Apps Development market is also witnessing a slow but steady evolution of sorts. More and more Software Development Companies are responding to clients’ needs for mobile-only apps. These new-age apps provide a crucial benefit over the standard applications developed for desktops, which were designed for larger screens. Earlier when the need for mobility led to the migration of apps from desktops to mobile, it was common practice to alter the software coding to enable compatibility with mobile platforms, while retaining the desktop UI. This practice ensured a swift time to market and lower development costs, which benefited the company’s bottom line. However, it was the users of these applications who were faced with a range of problems related to using such hastily migrated software.

Due to the problems related to bugs and usability arising from this sort of desktop to mobile migration, the traditionally developed mobile applications were far from successful in many cases. Another major problem was that the migration of desktop UI to a mobile screen caused all buttons and menus in the UI to get squashed up and resulted in a very user-unfriendly experience. In many cases, users felt that their productivity actually declined as a result of using these applications. It was deemed necessary that the Mobile Application Development procedures required a makeover of sorts and the first steps towards mobile-only application development were started.

The Challenges of Mobile-Only Apps Development

Currently a few mobile-only applications are available in the market such as banking solutions compatible with the key mobile platforms - iPhone/iOS, BlackBerry and Android. However, this fledgling software development market segment needs to confront a few key challenges before it can be designated as a success. The first challenge is the cost aspect of developing an only-for-mobile app. Many have pointed out that this type of development is very similar to developing a completely new app from scratch, which can be an expensive proposition for many businesses specially those in the SME segment. A probable solution to this could be greater involvement by Offshore Software Development firms in the mobile-only development process to drive down costs and popularize the field.

A second often cited problem is the dearth of developers experienced in developing mobile apps which are compatible with the leading smart phone platforms. This problem will certainly resolve itself as these emerging platforms come of age, the mobile apps market continues to grow and developers view mobile-only development as an attractive working area. This is already beginning to happen today if the declining PC shipment volumes and rapidly increasing smart phone shipment volumes are any indication.

The other problem is the time to market issue, which is expected to increase because of developing separate apps for desktop and mobile platforms. This is actually a moot point, because in the next few years, smart phones and related mobility devices are pegged to become the primary devices for a mobile workforce, which refuses to be chained to their desks using a desktop. In fact some suggest that the work station PC as we have known it is expected to die a slow death at the work place, which is witnessing a steady migration to progressively smaller devices. In the face such evolution it is natural to assume that soon the client requirement for desktop applications would dwindle and mobile-only applications will be more prevalent. This list of challenges for mobile-only development is by no means exhaustive and many other challenges will have to be met before this emerging market develops as a leading segment of the software development market. For More Information Visit: http://www.extendcode.com/

What’s fresh in Windows 8?

Summary

A short time ago, Microsoft launched its new and revised Windows 8. In this article I will attempt to describe what I find fresh about the new Microsoft offering. I feel that this approach will help the lay users understand their requirement and help decide to upgrade or not from their current OS.

Windows 8: A Completely Fresh Perspective from Microsoft

I started using computers at a relatively early age and my first system was a Windows 95 PC in the early 90s. Till date I have worked with nearly all Windows variants- 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, 2000 Pro, XP, Vista and Windows 7 (I know NT and Server are missing from the list. Not into servers till date). After running apps on so many seemingly different Windows systems, I can say for sure that the basic structure of Windows had not changed much over the years, until Windows 8.

However, over the years, graphics have improved, new features have been introduced, security features have been added and improved, but the basic operational design had remained almost unchanged, till Windows 8. The new Windows is a completely new approach to desktops as it has been definitely designed keeping in mind a tactile interface and a majority of its apps are also specifically designed to operate on such an interface. The new OS does work with the traditional mouse and keyboard setup, though that’s not as much fun.

The Good Features of Windows 8

If you have a touch screen device such as tablet or a smart phone, this might be the first time you like using Windows OS on these devices. The new Windows allows you to download apps from the Windows Store and its new UI and start screen give a really cool look and feel. Depending upon your device, you might get a feel rivaling that of an iPhone or iPad, but probably not surpassing it. The Start Button as you have used all these years, has been completely thrown out, but you now have a full page Start Menu, which features separate tiles featuring your installed applications.

There is also a new feature known as the Charms Bar, which provides you shortcuts to often used features such as search, share, settings and devices. The brand new UI (User Interface) featured in this OS also allows you to use multiple windows and flip between applications as you would on any other touch-enabled device. Same functions are allowed by using the mouse scroll button and the keyboard Tab button, which allows you to access a top to bottom list of apps that are currently running. Downloading apps for Windows has also never been easier and any user can directly download apps from the Windows Store, which is built on the lines of the Apple iTunes store. These I feel are definitely good reasons to try out Windows 8, especially if you have a touch-interface setup already.

Things to Remember Before Upgrading

As with any new Windows OS, compatibility of current apps is a key issue to be considered and I have included a few things that you need to know before you go ahead with the upgrade. Windows 8 upgrade is available to users of Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista and Windows 7 with a few restrictions according to the OS being upgraded. Users of Windows XP SP3 can transfer their files, but none of the settings or applications can be transferred to Windows 8. For Vista users can transfer both their files and settings, whereas, Windows 7 owners can transfer their applications, files and settings to Windows 8 during the upgrade.



The author, Abhishek Chakravarti has been writing for the IT industry over the past few years. He has extensive experience in many a Software Development Company specially in the field of Open Source Solutions. He currently writes for eXtendCode Software Company in India. For More information visit: http://www.extendcode.com/

Beginners’ Guide to Conserving Battery Power for your Smart Phone

Summary

Smart phones are ubiquitous in our society and the always connected approach is an integral part of our current experience. But in this brave new world 3G/4G connectivity, we are still faced with battery power issues even in the newest devices. This article is designed to provide some battery conservation tips for your smart phone.

Smart phones and their Battery Woes 

When you buy a new phone with a new battery, you find that the battery holds out for almost the entire day and you can leave it for charging overnight, then pick it up in the morning and you are good to go. But that does not last long and about 6 months down the line you find that your cell dies by the time you leave work. Soon after, you have to charge your phone at work and can no longer play Angry Birds during your commute due to low battery levels. If this story sounds familiar, this article will help you find ways to minimize your battery usage, maximize your mobility and ensure that you continue remain “always connected”. 

Dim the Screen

Since the age of laptops, this has often been suggested and it holds true for the modern day smart phones. Even though your phone probably is smart enough to adjust its brightness according to lighting conditions, you are sure to get a longer battery life by manually setting the screen brightness to the minimum level that is comfortable for your use. Additionally, reducing the screen cut out time to 15 seconds or less is an added bonus.

Terminate All Unnecessary Connections

Some of us do not notice if the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS or 3G/4G connections are still running even when the phone sits idly on the desk. These applications are a massive drain on the battery reserves of your device. Switching them on only when required and keeping these off at other times is a sure fire way to increase the battery life.

Stop Using “Vibrate”

All of us that work in an office or are often in meetings, find the vibrate function indispensable. Bad news for us - the vibrate function can drastically decrease the battery life of your device. The alternative to this is to use a system of lights with the cell on silent to conserve battery power. 

Hunt Down those Background Applications

All phones have applications running in the background, which troll the internet and continuously collect updates / notifications. By hunting down and terminating these apps, you gain a twofold advantage- battery power conservation and smart usage of your data plan. 

Some Apps that Help 

In case you are not that savvy, find the Advanced Task Killer app online to help you terminate background tasks. There are other apps such as Carat and JuiceDefender (for Android), which can help ensure effective battery usage. Such Mobile Application Development is being carried out by many an offshore Software Development Company to help extend the battery life of smart phones. Word of caution- please read the requirements etc. of any apps you are planning to install.      

Some Miscellaneous Thoughts on the Issue

The idea of more than one phone is not appealing to most, but I do recommend occasionally turning off the phone and maintaining a relatively constant battery temperature to increase the longevity of the Lithium-ion battery pack. Also the number of charging cycles of each battery pack being limited, conserving battery power translates into an extension of the battery life for your device. Having an extra charger at your workplace or in your car is definitely a good idea if you work long hours, travel a lot or play Angry Birds very often.                    

What Makes a Mobile App Great?

Summary

 

We live in a world, which is rapidly going mobile whether it is related to work, banking or shopping. The age of mobile apps has definitely begun and it is slowly but surely gaining control of many aspects of our existence. In this article I will try to put forward my views about what makes for a truly great mobile app and then try to predict further evolution of the market.

The Basics

If you ask a random group of enterprise apps users about what they look for in a mobile app or mobile productivity suite they are using, most responses are going to be: a good user interface (UI), an awesome user experience (UX), user friendly features and so on. These answers would seem to be copied right of the CoIT handbook (if there was one) and the same holds true wherever people are going mobile. It is no secret that new-age enterprise users are no longer satisfied by just an application that works, they want something that is easy to use, looks clean and provides an effortless increase of productivity.

No doubt that these are very valid points and the rise in CoIT is already beginning to produce an effect on the current Mobile Software Development industry as more and more companies shift towards a mobile-only strategy. However, if you ask the users about their favorite work-related apps, many would have some trouble naming a single one as they utilize multiple apps to perform the same, similar or related tasks depending on the type of work they need to do. This definitely runs contrary to the popular CoIT belief that a single application would be perfectly suited to carry out a specific task or related tasks. Such applications are still few and far between, hence, only a few of the current mobile apps are targeted at specific user segments.

The Analysis

Ever since available smartphone platforms expanded beyond RIM’s BlackBerry OS, the mobility market has been flooded with software packages for the newer platforms such as Android and iPhone/iOS. However, a closer inspection would reveal that a majority of these apps, even if not all, perform similar and closely related tasks, with minor variations in the UI, functionality etc. This has been an unfortunate side effect of the CoIT trend and gave rise to the appropriately named “crapplications”. Such applications do not provide any real value to the user and are developed to perform tasks which can be performed with equal ease in case of existing apps. These apps do not address the root cause of the problem and only thus do not usually provide users with better options than other productivity suites available in the market. 

The most pertinent question about how to be rid of “crapplications” is quite simple: “Why do we need mobile apps anyways?” The answer is quite simple too: Mobile Applications help users become more productive. How do you increase productivity? A skilled user ideally needs to have only a few tools at his/her disposal to perform the tasks efficiently and effectively. Thus the truly great app is almost like an extension of the user and the user hardly notices its existence. It seems the natural and arguably only way to carry out the assigned task or group of tasks assigned to the user. This is something that is often overlooked by developers and we end up with the same application with just a different packaging. In my view a truly great app is actually incapable of being replaced by a competitor and though we have already started on the quest, it might be sometime before we find the perfect app for our specific need.

The Possibility of Great Apps in the Future

The technology landscape is continuously changing and as the market evolves, newer apps are expected to be developed in line with the requirements of the users. The holy grail of mobile apps for the future would probably involve the user’s choices extensively in order to ensure that expectations are fulfilled in all cases and even surpassed in others. We have already started on this path mainly with respect to the open-source software market, where users freely contribute, share and discourse about changes that they can bring about in the existing coding to improve functionality, security, UI etc of the available apps/platforms.

In my opinion future mobile solutions whether closed source and open source would benefit from an increased customer insight. In consumer buying behavior, the client’s motivations for buying a product are often not quantifiable and referred to as a black box. Many mobile application development companies are realizing that the mobile apps market also follows the same principle. In such a situation, consumer surveys can only help to a certain extent, whereas, asking clients to contribute freely to the development process is sure to be a more effective way of reaching the goal – “development of a truly awesome mobile app”.