Wearables - Everything You Need To Know

With Google Watch and iWatch now becoming popular, the era of wearables is upon us! Today we have fitness bands that calculate steps walked, calories burnt etc. and watches that receive and make calls. This growth in wearable technology is showing no signs of stopping! This incrementing trend is benefiting us hugely; wearable app development has become a stellar domain today!

Here are 3 trends in the wearable world as of 2018:

1) "Smarter"-watches: Smartwatches have been in this game for a while and are evolving at a tremendous pace. They allow wearers to monitor fitness, control the phone remotely and send emails! Rumored to be in development, smartwatches might be able to link with other appliances and become a major component of IoT! Current technological stats suggest that the future smartwatches will not only be better than phones but might even replace them!

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2) Healthcare: Saving lives is a huge job and doctors/nurses need all the help they can get. Technology is the first in line to send aid! With smart-devices, doctors can monitor a patient's details every minute. Several companies have already implemented this technology. Zephyr anywhere’s BioPatch is a device that when placed on the patient's chest provides in-depth medical-grade data. Similarly, ReSound LiNX2 is a hearing aid that allows users to control it through an iPhone app!

3) Smart apparel: Smart glasses have long since been in the tech ecosystem and have evolved magnificently today! Smart-apparel is taking wearable app development technology to the next level! These glasses are used to simulate VR, AR experiences and industries like gaming; real-estate is utilizing these to the fullest. Similarly, smart-clothes are being made; these allow tracking wearer's data like fatigue, breathing statistics and so on! 

Soon enough we will witness IoT as a wearable component and we'll live in a technologically interlinked ecosystem! Want to get yourself a wearable mobile app made? Call Openwave and hire our mobile app developers today! Aided by them, you will get a world-class app in no time.

How to build an easy-to-use dating application and succeed competitors?

The best way to meet people of similar interests is through a dating app. With applications like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Grindr on the rise – making a dating app has become more than a hobby! 

Apps like these make it easier for people who are less social, to mingle and step out of their comfort zone. As developers, the job, however, remains challenging; to make an amazing app and give users the best experience. With fields like this emerging, mobile application development is on the rise!

Here are 3 amazing ways to have a dating app like Hinge that stands out:

1)Reduce ignoring and increase interaction: With facilities to swipe right on multiple people, the user often tends to forget whom he has selected to date! Due to this, several messages are left unread in the inbox and people get ignored. The hinge has a feature called “Your turn”, which prompts the user to reply to a chat and shows the ones he has yet to open and reply. Implementing features like this will improve the user experience for both parties.

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2)Be different: Having multiple apps providing the same feature will make the entire genre dormant. Having unique features will always catch the user’s eye and prompt him/her to try the app. Hinge, for example, shows mutual friends and hence lets people build strong relationships. Additionally, it offers an automatic connection between two such mutual people and sends an icebreaker! How convenient? This is an example of how simplicity can be added and at the same time functionality can be improved.

3)Make the experience better: Improving the concept of dating is a huge challenge for app developers. Swiping left and swiping right has made the entire app experience less interactive and more monotonous. Instead, having an app profile where users can display mutual interests, hobbies and converse over trends will help them come together.

Dating apps are all the rage, ever since the concept of online dating! To have a dating app is challenging; with giants like Tinder in the market, standing out isn’t an easy task. However, with Openwave by your side, you will surf the charts in no time. Our dating app development game is stellar! To hire mobile app developers in Malaysia, contact us right away.

How Augmented Reality Apps Change Everything?

With the ever-increasing connection between the virtual world and the physical world, transformative concepts like Augmented Reality or AR is helping to close the gap by merging the physical world with the digital world. The merging happens in such a way that it serves to educate, entertain, and most importantly enhance interactions with the entire globe around us. 

3 types of Augmented Reality apps

1.Augmented Reality based on Location – This method makes proper use of the several locations features available at our disposal including GPS, compass, accelerometer, etc. 

2.Augmented Reality based on Marker –This type of AR mainly uses markers like QR codes which trigger the digital overlays further displaying the real world through camera- view.

3. Augmented Reality without any Marker (Markerless) – AR is quite sophisticated as it involves using certainly advanced algorithms in order to augment an image taken from a camera. 

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Top 3 AR apps used for practical entertainment

1.WallaMe – This app allows its users to leave several hidden messages which are then spread across the real world. Once you create such a message using the app, their users of the app can read your message and for doing that they are required to point their smartphones or tablets in a particular direction.

2. Pokemon Go – In this gaming app, the users can physically chase digital characters in the game, but through their movement in the real world. 

3.Ingress –This game is enforced with the ability to transform the physical world into several virtual territories on which the competing players fight in order to conquer.

Use of AR apps in E-commerce and Retail
 
Although AR is mostly associated with the entertainment industry, since the technology it uses has some powerful practical advantages, hence they are used in other sectors as well just for some digital entertainment. In fact, the retail sector is showing a lot of enthusiasm by preferring online stores that offer AR.

Effects of AR in other sectors 

Further enhancing shopping experience, AR is being increasingly used by operators to take the store into the home of the consumer by using new technologies like RFID tags and Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons. Also, AR has given life to the otherwise mundane advertising world by allowing several operators to deploy window displays as a part of their interactive campaign. 

Hire a Mobile app developer – Openwave Malaysia and build Augmented Reality apps for your website. Hurry!

Why should your business consider a mobile app?

The world has made huge strides in terms of technology and the ways through which people have chosen to run their businesses. No matter what the nature of your business is, it is imperative for you to build an app out of it. The hassle of physical meetings or switching on the desktop is simply not easy enough anymore. An average person wants everything to be just one swipe away. Hence, the need to develop mobile applications. 

Here are a few factors that support this decision:

Statistically, mobile Is becoming the go-to device

Focusing only on the computer and the website won’t get you very far. Nowadays mobile phones are acting as magic wands and there is a need to jump on this bandwagon. 

Value for users is enhanced
 
If an app has done its due justice, it can increase the value for its users. 

Better communication
 
An app helps the business in improving its communication with the customers and users. Things such as location and sensors can help in enhancing the overall app experience. 

Mobile App development

Better brand building
 
It is very obvious, that the customers would become loyal to the business which is providing them an ease of operation. Your business has to be something which the user can access from any platform, be it a desktop or an app. 

Better promotion
 
If done right, your app can promote your business very well. It increases the coverage of audience and makes your offerings more accessible. 

Getting to know the user
 
The behavior of the user can be reasonably tracked with the help of an app. Your business can gather a lot of invaluable data and use it for analytics purposes. 

More revenue
 
The app is a sure way of increasing the earnings of the business. With a wider audience, the sales are bound to increase. 

If you’re looking to build an app out of your business, and are sifting through the mobile app development companies in Malaysia, Openwave developers can be an excellent choice.

How to select the best platform for your first mobile app?

With the current surge in the number of mobile users across the world, there is a great deal of interest in owning and operating mobile applications today. But just the sheer amount of technical jargon and the stifling competition in these circles can leave a new app owner or developer with a world of questions. A very important question you should ask before you hire app developers in Malaysia should revolve around the most suitable platform on which to go about developing the first mobile app.

Here are a few smart strategies to choose between Android and iOS as the preferred platform for developing your first mobile app:

Go by market share
 
This is a great filtering point to help you make the choice easier, as Android serves around 85% of mobile apps, while the other 15 % are built on IoS. In addition, the former dominates geographies of Asia and Africa, while iOS users are predominantly based in US, Europe, and Australia. Depending on the intended target audience of your app, you can make the choice to go with either.

Choosing based on demographics

If you try and make the choice from a demographics standpoint, Android users come on an average from slightly lower income strata, while iOS users are some of the high earners and spenders. Even the level of engagement is higher in the case of the latter.

Mobile App Development

Market Niche
 
iOS users have been seen to explore and download applications from all niches – sports, gaming, entertainment, education etc., while Android users have generally historically shown the preference for social engagement applications.

A probability of revenue generation
 
Historically, it has been the iOS users and not the Android ones who have shown the greatest probability to make app purchases on the store and this is why the chances of revenue generations for mobile app owners fare considerably better on iOS.

Perhaps the above strategies would have helped you establish the platform of your choice for your mobile application. If you want to make the best use of the platform and develop lucrative applications, then Openwave’s proven mobile app development services can add great value to your cause. Get to know about our service offerings today by contacting us!

10 exciting features the new iOS 11 adds to iPhone and iPad apps

The wait is over! Apple unveiled its latest OS version – iOS 11 – on June 5, 2017, and was met with a staggering response from its user community. The promising new OS comes loaded with a host of impressive features that are bound to enhance user experience. Also, Apple has redefined development strategies in tune with the latest enhancements of the version to allow developers to build novel applications. Let’s take a look at what Apple has in store for iPhone/iPad users:

The ARKit

Forming the center of attention is Apple’s ambitious release of ARKit along with this version. Designed to allow developers to imbue Augmented Reality elements in applications, it’s all set to take interaction to a whole new level.

Screen Recording

Unlike the earlier versions that required the use of third-party apps, iOS 11 comes preloaded with a screen recorder. Yes, now you can switch on the option in the control center and record your on-screen activity.

One-handed Keyboard Mode

With screen sizes getting bigger, typing now requires two hands – but not with iOS 11’s new features. There’s a one-hand mode that pushes the entire keyboard to one side on the iPhone and also a QuickType feature on iPad that allows quick access to emojis, symbols, etc.

QR Code Scanning

Now you don’t need a separate app to scan QR codes. The updated camera will read all the codes to provide quick sign-in options.

Siri Revamped

Siri just got better, advanced and more efficient. It can now translate English into foreign languages and can interpret a far greater range of words.

FLAC Media Playback is Now Renewed

Audio files compressed using FLAC media playback will no longer display any degradation in music quality.

Multitasking Made Easy

An incredible option added to iPad allows users to access and use two different apps at the same time in a split-screen, thus enabling multitasking

Revamped Dock

iOS 11 brings an all-new dock for the iPad allowing users to switch between an array of apps in an instant. The dock adapts itself according to the device usage.

Express with Apple Pencil

iPad Pro carries an Apple Pencil feature that enables users to create notes using a graphical representation. The tool is quite versatile and executes tasks in a simple manner.

App Offloading:

Getting rid of buggy, glitchy, and error-prone apps can be quite a hassle. iOS 11’s new offload option has now fixed it. 

With an extensive collection of features, iOS 11 is all set to open up new portals for developers to build feature-rich and future-ready applications. Partner with reputed mobile app development company in the Malaysia to get the best solutions!

How to Allow Users to Open URLs and Local Files in a MobileTogether Business App?

 MobileTogether, by Altova, is a very popular mobile app-building platform geared for businesses. It lets you build data-centric, cross-platform apps quickly and affordably.

What are the benefits of creating a cross-platform mobile application? You will be able to release a single product that will be accessible across a range of platforms like Windows, iOS, and Android.

Allowing Users to Access Local Files and URLs

MobileTogether apps enable users to connect to enterprise backend databases from within the application (that means employees can work via their phones). It’s also possible to allow them to access local files – like images, PDFs, texts - and URLs from within the interface. The Open URL/File action is used to implement the functionality. Why is the feature important? It can make the mobile application an extension of the main desktop-based enterprise-level software.

The Open URL or File action can be linked to a button click (or tap). As soon as the user touches on a link, a Safari (or another browser) window will open, and the user will be transported to a web page. For organisations, it’s possible to link an existing website, blog, or other resources directly to the application. This feature allows employees to access resources easily from their phones.

Please note:

The application stays open when the browser window opens. It’s possible for the user to return to the still-running app quickly by tapping on the return icon at the top left corner of the browser (for iOS).

• It’s possible for the developer to assign URLs and file names explicitly
• It’s possible for the user to select an existing file and URL
• Error handling is easy to implement if the user opens something that isn’t supported

The Open Local File/URL action will depend on the device

The operating system that the MobileTogether application is being run on will determine what the Open Local File/URL action. For example, the user view will be different on iOS and Windows devices. It’s possible for a developer to fully customize app behavior for various operating systems (OS).

You can customize your Mobile Application with our Openwave team

Why Do Developers Say it’s Easier to make iOS Apps over Android Apps?

If you’ve noticed, developers often make and release apps for the iOS platform before the Android platform. Have you ever wondered why Apple users get all the apps before Android users do? There are a multitude of reasons for it, though the most important one is that it’s simply harder to make apps for the latter. 

You have to write more code 

Android apps are coded in Java, while Android apps use Swift. On an average, you have to write at least 40% more code to include a feature in your Android app. 

The Integrated Developer Environment difference
 
With iOS apps, you are supposed to use the Xcode IDE, while Android developers use the Android Studio. The Apple developer environment is much easier to use, and it provides developers a lot of libraries and classes. If you’re experienced enough, you can have a working app up and running within the day. For Android, though, developers have to do a lot more work. Also, Android emulators are very slow, so it takes longer for developers to test their code. 

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The operating system problem
 
Most Android users use out-of-date operating systems: research suggests Lollipop is only used by about 12% of all users. Because platform users are so hesitant about upgrading to a newer OS, developers have to make the app compatible with several difference versions at once. 

The fragmentation factor
 
Android devices come in all shapes and sizes, and there are always major differences in the hardware they’re running on. Some phones have dual core processors, for example, while others have octa core processors. There also tend to be vast differences in screen sizes. Apple’s devices, on the other hand, are uniform when it comes to hardware and screen sizes. It’s much easier for developers to make apps for them.
 
As you can see, building an app for Android is a pretty complicated task. It is difficult to find good developers for the platform. Putting in the time and effort necessary to get an Android app is worth it, though: it has a market share of over 70 percent, after all.

Keep Your Audience in Mind While Developing your Mobile App

App downloads are expected to double over the next four years, according to expert estimates. Apple reported recently that over 160 billion apps have been downloaded from its store till date – so you can see that a staggering number of apps will be downloaded over the next few years. 

If you're planning on building a new app, it's vital for you to keep your audience in mind during the deployment stage to maximise your app's chances of success. 
 
Here are some pointers that can help during the development and marketing process:

Who’s going to find your app most useful?

Are kids going to be using your app, or is it meant to be an in-house communication app for your company? Your website should be geared to the preferences of your target audience. Smartphone users tend to be a picky bunch, in general – they use innovative apps designed by some of the top developers in the world on a regular basis and expect new apps to be on that level. 

Have you tested it out in a real world environment? 
 
An app that has slow loading times or isn’t optimised for some devices is sure to fail. You need to carry out extensive testing in a real world environment to ensure your app runs well without lagging and doesn’t have any major bugs. 

Companies often rush through the development process without bothering to test their product. There is nothing more annoying to an experienced smartphone user than an unfinished or unpolished product. 

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Pay attention to user opinion about your app and act immediately 
 
The reviews your app garners will play a significant role in its popularity. If your app has a five-star review, users are four times more likely to download it than if it had a three-star one. Paying attention to user complaints and addressing them immediately without wasting any time can help make your app popular overnight.
 
Hiring an experienced app development team will also help a lot. If your development team has launched successful apps before, their experience will come in very handy when you launch your app. 

Top Ways to Use Mobile App Marketing for Social Media

The effort that you put into marketing your app is just as important as the effort you put into designing it. Nobody is going to use your app - no matter how good it is - if they don’t know it exists, after all. 

Social media is a great marketing platform for app developers, being cheap, global and instant. It is a great way to put your app out there, get user feedback for your app, and to drive up demand and retention rates.
 
What can you do with social media? 
 
Social media is a great tool for marketing, even if you have no marketing experience. You can use human connection elements to build a relationship with your customers and get them to see you as a person selling a product, and not just a product.
 
Apart from building a relationship with your customers, you should also use social media to provide useful information about your app. Write or hire someone to create content for you, including blogs, infographics, videos, and articles. 

Mobile app development Malaysia

 
Here are the top social media platforms and how to get the most out of them:

Twitter

The maximum post length on Twitter is 140 characters, so your posts on Twitter have to be concise and to the point. If possible, leave space for re-tweeting, which will enable users to share your posts with their friends.  Twitter is mainly used by mobile users, so it’s perfect for app developers.  

Facebook
 
Facebook can be very effective if you’re willing to pay for ads, as the platform allows you to target users most likely to try out or buy your app. It takes less than 5 minutes to design an ad, too. Apart from paid ads, Facebook will let you post photos, videos, and informative content. 

Instagram
 
A picture is worth a thousand words, so they say. Instagram is a great tool for visual marketing- use photos to tell your story.
 
There are over 3 million apps on the Google Play Store at the moment, in direct competition with your app. Only a minor percentage of these apps make any money. If you’re struggling with getting users for your app, it might be worthwhile to consult professional developers in Malaysia from Openwave.

Reasons to Reconsider Your Stance of Not Being Mobile App Friendly

When people began to prefer browsing on their smartphones over their PCs, with some even spending more time on their phones compared to their TVS, companies began rolling out apps in an attempt to take advantage of this trend. Not many companies succeeded, though. That wasn’t surprising, seeing as we’re still in the nascent stage of mobile technology.

Some business owners are content with having just a website to promote their business – they don’t bother with mobile apps. If you’re one of these business owners, here are some reasons to reconsider your stance on not being mobile app friendly:

Do you think your app is just another version of your website?

Some business owners mistakenly think apps are just supposed to be a smaller, miniature version of their websites. However, customers who choose to download an app for a business choose to do so because they expect something more from it than what your website can provide – a convenient and simple way to access your most popular services. To put things simply, customers often use websites to browse for information and apps to opt for popular services.

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Do you think you’re safe because your website is responsive?

Are you one of those people who think having a responsive website is all it takes to be “mobile friendly”? A responsive website may help you attract customers, but apps are what will help you keep them. Apps add a touch of personalization that your responsive website never could.

Failing once doesn’t mean you should just give up

When the mobile app revolution started out, many business apps failed, simply because businesses and app developers had no idea of what they were doing or what customers wanted. We’ve come a long way from those early days, though. If you built an app before and it didn’t take off, you might want to give it another shot.

There are a large number of resources available online – many of them free – that let you build, maintain, and update a mobile app smoothly. Some mobile app developers also help you build an app from the ground up and provide post-deployment services at an affordable price. Get in touch with expert developers in Malaysia today!

Why Your Restaurant Business Needs a Mobile App to Flourish

Many people now spend more time on their smartphones as compared to their TVs or PCs. With smartphone sales headed through the roof – with more than 2 billion people expected to own one by 2019 – a large number of brick-and-mortar businesses are scrambling to put their businesses online through websites and apps.

 If you own a restaurant business and are on the fence about getting an app, here are some ways your restaurant would benefit from an app:

Your app will put your restaurant out there
 
Most people these days check a restaurant’s menu as well as reputation online before venturing there. Potential customers will be able to learn more about your restaurant through your app. Any glowing reviews visiting customers leave behind will influence customers positively – it’s a proven fact that customers are more likely to pay attention to other customers and their opinions instead of anything you claim about your restaurant. 

Mobile app development

 
Build customer loyalty through your app
 
Customers are more likely to visit your restaurant if you give them regular freebies or discounts on your food items. A loyalty program for returning customers – managed through your app – will help improve customer engagement and build loyalty towards your establishment. 

An app makes billing and reservations easy
 
A well-designed restaurant app gives customers access to several innovative features, including ordering on their smartphone screens and the instant generation of a bill. It’s hard to keep track of several tables and their unique orders during peak hours – an app can automate the entire process. Customers can also make reservations on their apps before visiting your restaurant for guaranteed seating. 

Your customers can order food online with a few taps 
 
Your customers will be able to order their favorite dishes from your menu with a few taps if you offer home delivery. You can also let them store their order history for when they order next time to make it faster. 
 
Are you planning on building a mobile app for your restaurant business? You can use several freely available tools to make a multi-platform app in quick time. The better alternative it to hire the services of professional developers in Malaysia to do it for you, as this may be a worthwhile investment in the long run.

5 Ways in Which a Mobile App Can Help a Restaurant Business Grow

Restaurant owners often have to deal with fluctuating customer attendance, especially during holidays or the weekends. Sometimes customer numbers can be very high, outnumbering staff members and making it very hard for the servers to keep up with orders. 

Mobile technology can help in such cases. Not only is it easy to implement, but it also provides a range of advantages like streamlined service and reduced waiting time for both customers and restaurant staff.
 

Almost everyone carries a smartphone these days. In fact, over by the year 2020, over 6 billion smartphones are expected to be active in the world. Here are 5 ways why getting a mobile app developed for a restaurant is good for business:

1)    Reservations at the touch of a button:

Instead of calling ahead, customers can instead use the restaurant app to check for places and reserve places accordingly.
 

2)    Automated advertising to lure more customers:

It was typical for restaurant flyers and coupons to make their way to a potential client’s mailbox. These days, a significant amount of this promotion is carried out through apps and online social media instead. It is convenient for customers and cost-effective for restaurants. 

Mobile app for Restaurant

3)    Convenient billing options for fast service:

Restaurant Billing is a very complex process, as commonly there are at least a dozen tables occupied at one time by a moderately popular restaurant and each table places a unique order. Last minute additions to a bill are also very common. A restaurant app takes out a lot of the hassle involved in billing by making the process semi-automated. It can also calculate a tip to make things even easier for customers.
 

4)    Ramp up online orders and home delivery:

Customers can place orders for their favorite foods through their smartphones, remotely and conveniently.
 

5)    Drive business growth:

A well-designed restaurant mobileapp made by a competent developer can give a significant edge to any restaurant business. A restaurant app not only helps with the running of a restaurant business, but it can also be utilized for promotion and distribution of a product. Apart from that, it is a good way for a typical restaurant business to keep a tab on its competitors.

Start writing your restaurant’s success story today with a mobile app!

Top Question to be Answered by Startups Before Building a Mobile App

The wheels of technology never fail to stop turning towards development. With the increasing need for a virtually connected world, smart devices have come to play a crucial role in our lives. Considering the growing need for a smart world, entrepreneurs are all set to brand their business by building their personalized mobile apps. While this is a positive sign that shows that they are keeping up with the trends, there are a few elements that the startups ignore before building their app. Here are the top 3 questions that startups have to ask before building their app: 

 

1. What is the purpose? 

 

It is true that mobile apps are in vogue these days, and successful organizations have reported a considerable growth in their business after launching their business app. But the question is, why are YOU doing it? Money and publicity cannot act as the sole driving force. Your actions have consequences. If you don’t have the passion for maintaining your business app and for tackling the challenges that come along with it, then your intentions towards building an app aren't right. Wealth and fame are secondary factors, passion and dedication come first. 

 

2. How much will my App cost? 

 

Just as curiosity kills the cat, faulty budgeting by enthusiastic startups for building an app has been found to ruin businesses. Don’t overvalue or undervalue the budget before building your app; keep it realistic. The quality of your app depends on the money you pay for it. Apart from the amount it would take for the developers to build your business app, you also need a substantial amount to market your app. Ensure that you have enough money to satisfy the financial requirements. If not, start looking for investors. A striking business and branding plan can help you attract investors.

3. What is so unique about your app?

The introduction of a plethora of smart devices has multiplied the demand for mobile apps. With the app stores filled with millions of applications to satiate the growing hunger of Smartphone users, there's a high chance that your app may never get noticed. What is so unique about your app that will make your users download it at the first glance? Ensure you establish a set of unique features to your app and offer a striking functionality. To stand out is the only way to stay ahead of the game. 

With expert developers, vast experience and a commitment to quality in delivery, Openwave has to be your choice for your business app.