How to get the best out of your Mobile Development

by | Feb 12, 2014 |

Mobile Development is just as complicated as it is fun. Developers have to take a great number of things into consideration and guide the process through a lot of different stages. How can you make the best of it? Get the best team: Real expert developers might cost you a pretty penny in salaries. But, you don’t necessarily have to have the cream of the crop, as long as you optimize your team. Create a strong team by placing every person in a position where they can realise their full potential. If a person is weak in a certain shout and we can discuss how to turn your big mobile plans into a successful...

What is hot on the Mobile Development scene?

by | Feb 10, 2014 |

According to a report on venturebeat.com, Facebook is creating a Mobile Development buzz while other web architecture is fading into the background. But what does this mean? In a survey of around 6,700 developers, Appcelerator found that 66 percent of developers points ahead of Twitter, the No. 2 choice. Three major changes led to Facebook’s newfound popularity among devs. Appcelerator told Venturebeat.com that the company abandoned its HTML5-powered app for faster native apps on iPhone and Android; optimized its mobile APIs to make it easier to connect with its social graph; and offered up extensive mobile analytics by snapping up Onavo. In the survey, 34.7 percent of mobile developers said that legacy web infrastructure SOAP (Simple Access Protocol) and XML data formats were of little interest to them. This might be because they were built for desktop computers which are always on and have a steady broadband connection – unlike mobile devices. Similarly, developer interest in HTML5 has been on a steady decline for over a year. While HTML5 would allow developers to build apps that could be easily deployed across multiple platforms, it still offers a noticeably less polished app experience compared to native development. Around 60 percent of developers surveyed said they were interested in using HTML5 in their apps, down from a high of 73 percent in mid-2012. Appcelerator found that devs now view Javascript as the most important programming language for mobile development. 47.2 percent of devs ranked Javascript their No. 1 language, while Java and Objective C trailed with 23 percent and 20 percent, respectively. For the average Joe on the street these findings...

The 101 of Mobile Development

by | Feb 7, 2014 |

Mobile devices are still a little behind on certain technological aspects in comparison with their desktop computer counterparts. This is why Mobile Development is such an important part of moving the mobile scene forward. What is mobile development? Well, it is a very broad term to describe the development of anything related to mobile phones and the use thereof – applications, tools, testing, programming, deployment etc. People use their cell phones for more than just making a call or sending a text. They want to surf the net, play games, do financial transactions and download songs as if they are using a laptop or computer. The problem is that the web was originally intended for computers, not mobile devices. If a website isn’t mobile friendly, a cell phone user has a hard time navigating through all the intricate parts. It is believed that the modern phone only has 1/3 to 1/2 of the computing resources of a low end desktop computer. During Mobile Development a lot of factors come into play – not only the issue of internet compatibility. Connectivity is a problem that mobile users often have to deal with, especially in rural areas or where there isn’t a sufficient number of cell phone towers. While computer-based internet rarely experience signal problems, the same can’t be said of a cell phone. This can interrupt service and lead to a bad user experience. But, the biggest issue that developers face is that of the ever changing mobile environment. Every time a new type of phone hits the market or changes are made to web operation, the mobile internet has...

Do I need a mobile app or a mobile website? Part 2

by | Oct 24, 2013 |

To aid you with your decision between a mobile application and a mobile website, here is a list of seven differences between these mobile initiatives. Audience reach: the mobile website can be viewed by anyone with a mobile browser while an appropriate device is needed for the app. The site can be viewed by anyone and doesn’t require installation, but the app has to be downloaded and installed by the user. User experience: app latter as worth wasting money on when they can simply visit the site from their desktop. An application offering valuable and unique service – well, that is a horse of different colour. Availability: an application has to go through a submission process and the business has to find a suitable mobile application host. The site is available immediately. However, the app has the advantage over the site with regards to internet connectivity – the mobile application can be used offline. Updates and maintenance: a mobile site is easily updated and the changes can take effect immediately. It is not so simple with a mobile application and could entail resubmission, multiple development resources etc. Search engine optimization: this refers to how a user will find your mobile initiative. A mobile site can be found through a standard web search by using a search engine like Google or Yahoo. The application is typically found through an app store search or linked from a website. It would be a good idea to put some thought into promoting your mobile application. For your mobile application hosting needs, give Integrat a call and we will have your app up and...

Do I need a mobile app or a website? Part 1

by | Oct 21, 2013 |

Before you can think about a service like mobile application hosting, you first need to ask yourself if your business needs an app or rather a mobile website. How can you determine this? A mobile website is one that can be viewed from a user’s mobile phone. It differs from an ordinary website in the way that it is configured to fit on a small cell phone screen. It is basically a simplified version from a standard website that users access via a desktop computer. A mobile application is software that works on a specific version of the website. It adds value to their lives, thus making the search for (and use of) the app worthwhile. Lastly, keep the cost in mind. A mobile site will most likely be cheaper to develop and implement than an...

What comes first: the mobile app or the site?

by | Oct 18, 2013 |

Just like the chicken and the egg story, people often wonder if they should develop a mobile application first and then the mobile site, or vice versa? The answer lies in the needs of your clients. If you ask your clients how they access your company’s products or services, you will find a general trend – it is a journey that starts at one point and ends at another. This journey is influenced mainly by two things: trust and loyalty. Users will generally visit a company’s website from their desktop or computer first. If their interest is peaked or their mobile application to enthral their...