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The best iPhone and Android Apps of the Year

Both iOS and Android developers are launching incredible apps every month. Here are some of the best of the year.

Here are some of the best iOS apps:

Camera Awesome
The best new app of 2012 is led by a photo-sharing service which can help in clicking awesome photos. The app is developed by a decade old photo-sharing site SmugMug and is named as Camera Awesome. This app makes us to believe that you can ditch digital cameras any time. The app has automatic leveling features and comprehensive color adjustment options. It also includes many presets and filters for $0.99 for each of them or nearly $10 for all of them. You can share the photos across your social channels including the new Instagram app.

Pocket
The Pocket app is known as the best bookmarking app which is free and was earlier known as Read It Later. It has new features including the ability to view videos and images seamlessly  which is part of its simple and classy interface.

TouchTV
News provider SkyGrid has come up with a new app called the TouchTV, which shows videos from cable networks onto the iPad. TouchTV includes videos of more than 5 minutes from 16 different providers which include hotshots like ESPN, Bloomberg and the like. The app also offers a glimpse of what app-based TV would be like. It is one of the best video discovery services on the iOS platform.

Any.Do
Any.Do finally comes up with an iOS version. The app is backed by Eric Schmidt, Google’s chairman to be one of the best productivity apps every made easily letting the user to complete their tasks with a swipe of a finger. It includes a comprehensive voice-dictation technology which records the words without the need to type manually. One can share lists with friends too.

HomeSnap
HomeSnap is an app which is assisted by augmented reality to help users to know the value of a home by snapping its picture. One can see school information and historical data related to the house too. Although it is not yet wholly reliable, it is efficient enough.

Here are some of the best Android apps of the year:

Flipboard
Flipboard is one of the favorite Android apps and a socially curated magazine which showcases news, photos and status updates. Flipboard is also one of the best ways to read content from third-party publishers on smartphones.

Instagram
Instagrams is one of the best photo-sharing apps which attracted more than 5 million downloads in less than a week. Instagram was later taken up by Facebook; the app has since then achieved cult status and the identity of a true pop-culture sensation.

Google Drive
Google Drive is rated to be a far superior and more cost-effective solution for sharing documents through Dropbox. Many companies rely on Google Docs, so Google Drive can be easily added to the list too. It has dominated the market in the face of ruthless competition from Dropbox.

Airbnb
Airbnb’s is part of the Android family since January and is a vacation-rental marketplace which helps property owners and travelers for sending quick messages. The app has reputed travel recommendations from celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Jack Dorsey.

iPhone Development | iPad Development | Android Development | iOS Development

Custom iPhone App Development and the trends revolving around the App store

iPhone app development is demanded by many companies in the western world. Also, the trends around iPhone app store are changing too. The Apple iPhone 4S is a phenomenon now, while the iPhone 5 is ready to be rolled out by September 21 this year. What makes the phone a must-buy all the time? Obviously Apple and Steve Jobs have created a brand which is insurmountable. The high adoption rate of these smartphones is testimony to the class of the products and its unmatched features. More than 50% of all US smartphones are iPhones which is continually building on its earlier success.

But with recent years, demand has been heavy for custom iPhone apps from the enterprise markets as well as other mobile development companies. Android-based phone sales have literally doubled over the year while Windows Phone is trying to make inroads into the market. The App Store has become increasingly crowded since there are about a million mobile applications available on the App Store across various categories. To stand out and make a mark in the App market, it is necessary for companies to partner an established partner and a development company which has the right kind of experience and expertise in the field of mobile app development. It is necessary to look out for competent mobile development companies who have years of experience in the field as well as a team of developers who are expert enough to create any type of app for any domain. The company should have experienced professionals who are well versed with the iOS 6/iPhone 4S apps along with development of apps for the iPad, and any other Apple product.

The iPhone 4S SDK development process is difficult for the newbies but those accustomed to developing apps on the platform will find it easy to create apps for a wide variety of requirements. The offshore technology team of mobile app developers and iPhone     developers need to get ahead of the technology curve for being the best. One should stay ahead of the overall competition for making a mark. Offshore development companies always try for getting mobile application developers who are willing to put in extra time and effort for success, obviously in a mutually beneficial relationship. The biggest advantage of outsourcing iPhone app development process is that the costs involved are very less compared to developing apps inhouse. One can see significant cost reductions and the development time is less too. 

Some of the features of highly successful custom iphone app development companies include:

  • High experience and skilled development team specific to iPhone app development
  • Proven success with app listings in the App store for the series of iPhones as well as iPads and Macs.
  • Cost effective project plans and flexible and scalable pricing models
  • Stringent delivery schedules and tight plans of development
  • Custom iPhone application development including all app functions found in a single roof


Companies which are able to offer apps related to other latest mobile technologies especially for Android always have more business than a technology specific app development company. Apps are always in demand related to the smartphone hardware features including the accelerometer, GPS, calendar and anything that needs customization revolving around an enterprise.

iPhone Development | iPad Development | Android Development | iOS Development

Steps to become an iPhone App Developer

Here are some of the profound tips for becoming an iPhone Apps Developer. One of the first steps that you need to do is buy a Mac. A Mac with an Intel-based processor which runs the Leopard version of MacOS X will suit you fine. A top of the range model is not necessary. Any Mac which can afford maneuverability for the developer will be needed. Mac Minis are more than powerful enough and can be serviceable if one already has PCs and a bunch of devices. Mac Minis are good to move around too. Developers can take them home for continuing their work. Owning the SDK is the next step. Apple provides the free SDK which is required for iPhone development and includes that an average developer needs to get going. It includes the development environment Xcode and the iPhone Simulator which is required for testing. There are some performance analyzers too, template-like interface builders and a huge reference library with enough documentation.

The third and one of the most important parts for iPhone app development is to learn Objective C. It is the primary programming language which is required for app development and an extension of C with OOP principles along with scripting elements. Any developer with previous programming experience will find it easy enough to transfer their skills for mobile app development. Apple adopted Objective C which was previously referred as SmallTalk. Since then, it has always used the platform. The best way to pick up the language is when you start with C/C++ and then learn about the APIs of the iPhone and the iPhone developer site is the best source too.  The free tutorials on the web can get you help too. The official Apple SDK has good details about various features and one can get clarification on anything. To start out with development, the fourth step is to start writing something. Get a project to work on and start coding with Objective C. A Java programmer can also adjust and practice his or her programming skills for getting a project done.

A couple of modification tasks can help if one has not actually commenced on an original project. The SDK includes a host of sample projects which can help the developer with several aspects of development. One can start there with the process and just reverse engineer it. One can add new features and even create a new game. The fifth step is to eventually become a developer. Sign up to be an iPhone Developer and shell nearly $99 which would allow agreeing to Apple’s terms and conditions. One needs to sign up to even test the code on the iPhone. Depending on time available during some weeks and even depending on the level of programming knowledge, an iPhone game would take about two months to get finished. The toughest part is to adjust to the unsafe language since a new developer would get frustrated to find even a single bug in the code. Finally, submit the app to Apple. Apps need to be submitted to the App Store and uploaded with a description along with icons and screenshots. Apple mostly takes a week to approve the content.

iPhone Application Development | iPad Apps Development | Android App Development | iOS App Development

iPhone Application Development for Business & Pleasure

IPhones have been the best platform for various applications since its inception in the year 2007. The extreme technological flexibility and high end hardware has enabled the iPhone to be compatible to millions of applications found in various online stores. Interestingly, in this era of technological revolution, the iPhones provides a huge array of applications which are required for every day use. Moreover, the high demand for apps has fuelled the need for many high end app developers. Many programmers around the globe design apps which cover all the major business and utility segments required for daily usage.

iPhone’s revolutionary touch-interface for the first time has created a product that is transforming the usage of mobile devices with its ability to become accustomed to the user’s experience. This has facilitated for a wide range of apps to be moved to the iPhone and different companies across the world have started creating a road map into their customer management and relationship strategies with the swelling field of iPhone application development. Many companies have the ability to fix complex problems related to mobile application and hence help create revolutionary iPhone apps for their customers around the world. Varieties of iPhone apps are available like widgets commonly used in social media integration, and website creation and are available in different forms.  

In recent times, the trend for apps has shifted more towards business. Education, business, medical and book applications are the most sort after categories of apps development these days. Even during this economic instability, the mobile apps seem to be flourishing as businessmen and entrepreneurs are using the apps more frequently to reach out to their customers/and prospects and thus providing them something new and unique. Program developers are acting according to the demand and are emphasizing more on the business front. With several thousand companies working day and night all over the globe to develop applications for different sectors including entertainment, social networking, shopping, navigation, and browsing etc. they are readily accessible online. The technology platform used in creating the apps include JavaScript, XHTML, CSS DHTML AJAX, Xcode, Cocoa Touch Framework, Objective C, iOS4, iPhone SDK, Unix and Mac OS X. The most innovative and creative iPhone apps and their designs are created by coding the iPhone SDK platform. The apps made by the developers, who are highly trained IT professionals are extremely user friendly and easy to install.

Before letting the applications hit the store, they are thoroughly run through different tests and are checked and rechecked for bugs. The app teams in various companies remain up to date so as not to fall back in the competitive market. A lot of work is put into promoting these apps as well. Most companies facilitate 3rd party services to develop apps as per the client’s creative ideas to change them into a live iPhone apps. With such a powerful device like an iPhone at hand, you can do anything you like anytime with a little help from such app development teams.

iPhone App Development | iPad Apps Development | Android Apps Development | iOS App Development

Mobile App Development with iPhone and Android Expected to Blow out Competition

The demand for mobile developers is high and the recruiting environment for software development professionals has been extremely good. IT teams are in huge demand since they play important roles in achieving client goals. Investment in technology is important for meeting the drastically increasing demand on software professionals.

Hiring managers are searching for mobile app developers more than ever since the demand has quadrupled over the last year as companies are willing to boost their spending on IT for meeting their goals. Jobs for software professionals are many but only the competent ones land on them.

The analysis of the best platform has been debatable but going on in the US. According to a report, the shortage of iPhone app developers has affected several companies. The shrinking number of professionals is mostly due to the fact that they are inexperienced and the second part is that they are confused about the mobile app platform that they should specialize in. Software development professionals are also very much concerned about the reducing remuneration though iPhone developers are always in demand.

Talking about the features of the iPhone, the UI is exceptional and the software is seamless. There are several iPhone versions with one released every year. The storage capacity varies for every model and the rate differs likewise.

Android on the other hand is one of the consistent performers in the mobile app world and there are many incredible smartphones which run on this platform. Android owners have different carriers and referred to, as Droids. The phones are of different configurations, memory and sizes.

Apps constitute the most important part of both platforms and are cited as the primary reason why many people opt for smartphones. Apple’s App Store has a huge store of apps and games and also is the biggest market of apps in the world with the Android OS closely vying for the top spot. Apple is relatively strict in the apps that pass through its scanner.

Alternatively, Android emphasizes on “openness” and encourages more and more apps for its own app market which results in diminished quality of the apps. The iOS boasts of good quality apps compared to Android market and both the stores have their own share of hits and misses.

A unique advantage with Android is related to Google’s huge list of services which are assimilated in the smartphone easily. The native Gmail app. Google Maps feature and the Google Navigation features are great enough. One can tweak some phone features if necessary. The smartphones boast of slick design and theme apps for a consistent look and feel of the apps.

But with multiple versions of Android available, there is a consistent problem of fragmentation with the operating system. Additionally, many phone manufacturers opt to have their own mobile “skins” which find a place on top of the Android platform. Only Galaxy Nexus offers a vanilla Android experience and hence the first phone to be updated with the newest OS.

For more information about Android App Development and offshore iPhone Application Development visit: www.elantechnologies.com

The iPhone Development Environment and the Android Development Environment - A Comparison

iPhone and Android are the most popular smartphone platforms of the generation. The apps created on these platforms have made life comfortable and smooth. Working with the environments, developers find that there are few kinks with each of them. The comparison between Android and iPhone application development has been endless and nearly all boards of controversial comparison articles are trolled or flamed.

With regards to the programming language, the iPhone app development language is Objective-C which is based on C and consists of various extensions including interfaces, dynamic typing, messages and many more. On the other hand, Android revolves around Java. Many feel that Java is a total no-brainer programming tool. That is precisely the reason why coders opt for iPhone application development which they would find more exciting than Android app development.

It is very difficult to find the different functionalities in the iPhone but Android platform is much more transparent about its functionalities.

The iPhone apps are stringent in quality and are of closed nature. Android apps on the other hand are based on an open source platform and easy to tweak. The iPhone source code is available through the web but downloading Android source code of any app is easier and faster. Android apps are pretty much consistent too if one is considering the overall layout. It is also easy for beginners to venture into Android App development instead of iPhone development.

If there is a comparison between iPhone and Android application development on the basis of its programming model, the winner is obviously iPhone since it is based on the popular MVC design pattern. It is useful and easy to make the UI based on the design pattern since the coding patterns are structured well in the source code. 

On the other hand, Android supports multiple processes simultaneously which makes it a little complicated. Both platforms enlist user preferences set in XML. Android’s XML pattern allows for customized user interface components. But with an iPhone, the UI job is extensive and tedious.

As an iPhone developer, one can have various resources at one’s disposal. Developers can resort to watching videos carefully for learning certain processes and coding techniques. Android too offers proper guidance related to API preferences. Android resources are more organized in this sense. Also, Apple developers do not have access to open source tools for developing iPhone apps.

The tooling systems of both platforms are basically similar and quite simple. Both the platforms have a debugger, profiler, IDE, UI, and code builder. There are no clear favorites in between iPhone and Android application development since both the platforms have advantages as well as disadvantages. It depends on the type of developers and their choice of platform. Both platforms offer tremendous growth opportunities. Additionally, with the every passing year, the complexity of apps is increasing at break-neck speeds. It is important to be clear about each of the pros and the cons of both platforms before opting for one of them for mobile application development.

Android or iPhone: The competition is still on!

The competition between the world’s biggest mobile platforms has always been intense. Even though Windows Phone is picking up and Blackberry has its boys, it is Android and iPhone Development show all the way!

The iPhone: The one and only
When people talk about features of the iPhone, they are referring to the iOS mobile platform. The speed of the software is great across the board and there has always been one iPhone even though we have several versions every year. One can just choose the storage that it boasts of: 16 GB to 64 GB.

The many looks of Android
Android is Google’s mobile operating system and many smartphones run on this platform. Android owners refer to their smartphones as a “Droid” even though the carriers differ from one another. Android phones are found of all shapes and sizes.

The App Store vs. the Android Market
Now this is the most important part that constitutes both platforms: apps. Apps are cited as the primary reason why people opt for smartphones these days. Apple’s App Store includes a huge list of downloadable games, tools and is the biggest market of apps in the world closely followed by Android. Apple is relatively strict in its choice of apps in the market and takes critical judgment of the apps that pass through its scanner. The App Store though is the king here.

Alternatively, Android emphasizes on “openness” and does not have a strict app approval process for its own app market. This is the main reason why malware cannot be fixed, but Android followers are happy about the approach.

The iPhone OS has been in the market for long now and hence boasts of good quality apps and more apps compared to Android market. But there are new apps being developed in both platforms and hence both iOS and Android have their own share of hits and misses.

iPhone vs. Android
A unique advantage with Android App Development is its seamless integration with Google and its services. Everyone can benefit from Android’s superior native Gmail app. Google Maps feature in Android include Google’s Navigation, GPS navigation app for the car. On the whole, Android is a flexible OS which helps you to tweak some phone features if it bugs you. All simple settings can be controlled too. There are slick design and theme apps which can easily modify the look and feel of the smartphone.

But there is a huge issue of “fragmentation” with Android since there are multiple versions of Android available. The latest version of Android is 4.0 or Ice cream Sandwich but there are many new devices which are still running an old version of the OS. Additionally, phone manufacturers come up with their own “skins” which rests on top of the Android platform. These “skins” have their own look and own apps that cannot run on any other phone of any other manufacturer. Only the Galaxy Nexus offers a vanilla Android experience and are always first updated before any other smartphone.

Now coming to the iPhone advantage, Apple has always been able to offer the best possible experience for its customers and hence seamless experience is guaranteed on all levels. With its latest Retina display technology, iPhone has the best pixel-rich display in a phone and presents a superb UI for web browsing and multimedia. Apple’s FaceTime app makes video chatting seamless between Apple devices. Siri is the best phone assistant till date too.

The iPhone is less customizable which might be a huge turn-off for some users. Also there are problems with its support for 4G capability. This is a huge minus in terms of speed when Android 4G phones are around.

For more information about iPhone App Development and Offshore Android Application Development visit: www.elantechnologies.com

The War Between iPhone and Android Development is On!

iPhone and Android are the two most popular mobile development platforms for the developers today. Both the platforms are vying for increased success and the numero uno position.

Trends in the iPhone app development market
iPhone is extremely popular with those who have been using the iPhone and many more who cannot afford to buy it. The iPhone has always had sleek design through its various models, and the ever smooth UI never fails to attract attention. The incredible touch sense and the huge store of apps have several followers and faithful ones at that too! The demand for interesting apps is huge and iPhone developers have managed to bring about innovation in most of them too. There has been a constant demand for apps related to business, connectivity, utilities and games.

Apple developers have had to bring in many apps over the years to supply the apps as per the demand but with the recent launch of iOS 5 and iPhone 4S, the demand is sky-high. iPad 2 has also pulled in demand of apps suited to the product even as development costs are growing every day.

Trends in the Android app development market
Android is a super development platform for mobile app development for developers. Those having experience as a developer in different platforms will have fun working with Android and to work out the logic of the games as well as other apps. The Android Software development kid is open to invention and an experienced developer can get started with Android apps development in an instant.

Android Application Development has made its foray into different domains and industries. The need is high for innovative games and utilities which can make the best possible use of the firmware and the hardware of smartphones. Since Android is open-source based, developers find it easy to get started with the whole development process. The SDK is easy enough to use for experienced coders and developers and one can start on implementing the ideas for apps too.

A Brief Comparison
In terms of ease of use, the iPhone takes the cake and scores better marks than its counterparts. Android has improved a lot in the ease-of-use perspective but the iPhone has managed to keep a fair distance from the rival to win hands down. Android phones consist of many home screens and other features which make it a little cluttered.

In terms of openness, Android is the winner since it is open source and open to all. Those users who need their platform to be open always opt for the Android since the apps maketh the phone!

iPhone also boasts of the best battery backup compared to most of the Android phones. Android phones are loaded with features that have always caused less battery life. The battery life  is lower compared to that of the iPhone. The battery performance varies over different Android phones but in an overall perspective, they are a notch lower than iPhone in terms of powerful batteries.

Both the mobile platforms support multi-tasking to different degrees of success. iPhone helps in multi-tasking without hampering the overall working of the phone with several battery enhancements.

The iPhone’s software keyboard is also said to be superior to the Android’s default keyboard. The iPhone is said to have better features and scope whereas it is found that Android devices cannot even search emails.

For more information about iPhone Development and Offshore Android Application Development visit: www.elantechnologies.com

The iPhone 4S: An Outside Perspective of its Features!

The iPhone 4S is one of the most sought-after technological gadgets in the world because Apple’s trend of churning out incredible pieces of tech wizardry refuses to cease, The iPhone 4S boasts of multiple features which are sure to provoke gasps more than once.

Here are some of the salient features of having an iPhone 4S:

  • Two cores in the A5 chip means that the power is two times and graphics are up to seven times than that of its predecessor. The effects are there to see. iPhone Development is fantastically fast and great to operate since it helps in quick launch of apps, web browsing, and nearly everything. The A5 chip is also extremely power-efficient and hence the smartphone has a huge battery life.
  • With the newly designed optics, iPhone has the only camera that you need instead of a point-and-shoot cam. The iPhone 4S boasts of an incredible 8-megapixel resolution and an additional custom lens which has a large f/2.4 aperture. The phone also has a backside illumination sensor, and marvelous color accuracy, face detection etc. It has a feature which reduces overall motion blurring irrespective of how much light and how much action you capture.
  • One can even shoot stunning 1080p HD video since with the latest optics, the color is always vivid. It is also easy to edit video directly and share it through some social media platform without having to wait for connecting with the Internet through your PC!
  • iCloud is easy for management of your information including your photos, apps, mail messages, contacts, and the like. One can easily transfer the same through wireless connectivity.
  • The Retina display is just superb since the highest-resolution is superb to say the least. Also, human eyes are unable to distinguish any amount of individual pixels. The best part of the iPhone UI is its graphic detailing and well crafted images.
  • FaceTime lets you hear voices and also a face which says those words. Making a FaceTime call is also as simple as making an average phone call.
  • The apps that come pre-built into the iPhone are devoid of many features but one can easily search out the App Store to find many other utilities or similar ones with a cheaper price. The App store is like a treasure trove and all authorized personnel are given access too.
  • The iPhone 4S also has a easy-to-use interface and a set of amazing features thanks to its foundation which is iOS 5.
  • It is the first phone to switch between two antennas for better calling options. The normal HSDPA data speeds have crossed about 14.4 Mbps which actually means that there are faster connections, quicker loading and reloading along with faster downloads.

for more information about Android Application Development and Offshore iPhone Development visit: www.elantechnologies.com

Is iPhone Perfect for Business?

The iPhone is an amazing invention, no doubt. It has the best UI ever, a host of diverse apps in its App Store and a robust construction which can put the best smartphones to shame. Contrary to popular perspective, the iPhone is also a very good business phone. Here are some of the features and benefits on offer:

One can get their tasks done efficiently with the new Siri, the intelligent assistant which can help you manage tasks efficiently. The iPhone has location-based alerts with a comprehensive Notification Center along with reminders which are very useful for setting up appointments. The average businessman can find the iPhone perfect with its enhanced Mail features, a comprehensive Calendar, well sorted contacts, and the seamless Safari browser. One can even update the iPhone wireless with a PC or a laptop.

The iPhone is easy to integrate and easier to deploy. It can connect with Microsoft Exchange for getting immediate access to your critical business emails, your updated calendar, and contacts. There is an option of having multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts too thus enabling you to access enterprise resources quite more securely.

The deployment options are many starting with support for Mobile Device Management for configuring settings wirelessly and then for monitoring compliance regulations. In-house apps can be securely hosted too, directly to the iPhone through wireless connections.

The best part about business phones is that you have immediate and secure access to what you need. With the iPhone, you can do everything that a business phone can do and much better. One can keep critical emails and attachments securely stored on iPhone. Custom apps make use data-protection APIs for securing data which ensures that the data is safe even when a device is compromised.

The iPhone also offers comprehensive support for SSL VPN with the help of apps for easy and safe enterprise resource accessibility. There are thousands of iPhone web apps which have been approved by Apple and well designed to make your business better and productive. The sales pipeline can be managed remotely with the help of customized apps while one can even have their mobile version of the accounting system installed in their smartphone. What’s more one can collaborate and present different business aspects to clients and partners worldwide through web conferencing.

All your favorite business apps can be made accessible within the iPhone in a couple of taps. The best part about its business apps, that one can build any app if needed. The iOS software development kit is actually an extremely robust iphone app development environment that enables developers to create secure, and stable apps suited for your enterprise. One can even distribute in-house apps to employees.

It is evident from the above, that the iPhone is no less than any other smartphone for the business users. The iPhone is transforming the way that we do business by using its innovative features to support enterprise needs. The apps in the App store also play a great role in making the iPhone an incomparable phone for business users.

Fore more information about Android Apps Development and Offshore iPhone Application Development visit: www.elantechnologies.com

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