Why, you ask?

Because from the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep, all of us are affected by both UI and UX. Let’s take a look at these two terms before taking a look at why they’re important to our everyday lives.

UX is an acronym for User Experience

Sometimes dubbed UXD, a slightly more specified term meaning User Experience Design. Our second term, UI is the shortened form of User Interface. As you may have probably realized by now, these two go hand-in-hand. They complement each other. For one to exist without the other is almost impossible. And the reason for this? Well, we’ll get to that later.

UX simply denotes a medium where better interaction between a customer and a product is achieved. UX is in part what determines how satisfied a customer is with a product.

UI focuses on a more visual approach, or rather it has a more visual impact. It simply takes a product and makes it more appealing to the customer. This, of course, is a rather simplified definition because UI entails much more.

A product must have a good UX because that is its defining structure; that is what gives the product form, direction, and purpose. That same product must also have a good UI because that is what will communicate the message to customers. This is where the two terms correlate. Ultimately, what happens is this: UX gives birth to the product and provides satisfaction to the end user while UI completes the product’s look and attracts the customer. Functionality complemented by design.

This relationship between UX and UI applies to any good product, mobile devices and apps included, which is our focus here at Dynamik Apps. It might seem counterintuitive for two things that are dependent on each other to still be so different, but that is exactly the case with UX and UI. Oh sure, they share certain similarities, but they have many differences too.

Differences Between UI and UX (Mobile Apps)

Sequence

This is simply the order in which UI and UX are integrated into the process of design. UX design comes first, because that entails building the app from scratch; all the research that will guide the development of the app. UI designs follows that, working on visual the design of the app.

Useful Interface and Beautiful Interface

UX designers have the job of developing apps that must be valuable to customers. It’s their job to do the research, the analysis, and testing, all in a bid to create something that will satisfy the need of targeted customers—a useful app with a useful and easy-to-use interface. After that, in comes the UI designer.

The UI designer’s sole purpose is to make the product more appealing. To refine it and give it a form, typography, color, and interactions compatible with the UX designer’s creation. It is the UI designer who gives beauty to the interface; life and color to all those emoji and animations we all see and enjoy.

Goals and Emotions

UX designers study people to ascertain what exactly it is people seek. They make observations and inquiries to outline the problems people are trying to tackle and the goals they aspire to achieve. They design apps based on these findings. For instance, an app that promotes awareness of animal cruelty.

The UI designer will come in and see what the UX designer has done. He or she looks at it and asks themselves, “How can I take this and turn it into something that people can connect with?” A bright or striking design will catch their attention or if it’s funny, it will make them laugh. Different designs exert different emotions from people, and the UI designer knows just the right one to spark that emotion in people.

In conclusion, to say that mobile devices have now become an integral part of our lives would be an understatement. Studies by British psychologists show that we use our phones twice as much as we think in a single day. To be more explicit, we use them for at least five hours a day; at least five times every hour we’re awake. That’s a lot of hours, and app usage takes up more than half of those hours.

So all this is caused by simple apps?

Yes, but not just any app.

Developers and designers are aware of this. They know how imperative it is to make apps that are both utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing. It’s these kinds of app that attract people the most—the colors and designs attract them while the usability keeps them hooked. It is also these kinds of apps created by Dynamik Apps that are birthed from a harmonious merger of UX and UI.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post The Difference Between UI & UX appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

The release of iOS 12 is just around the corner. I know you are anxious to learn what new features will be available. Apple has made many improvements while adding new items in iOS 12.

I will take you through the top 12 best features of the new iOS 12.

1. Screen Time Control

In a CNBC video about the updates and additions to the new iOS 12, the new screen time control feature received a round of applause from the audience when it was displayed and talked about.

Perhaps that partly has to do with several research of screen addictions that has risen in recent years like Alice Walton’s article on Forbes. 

Apple, in their update, has responded to that problem.

According to Apple, the new iOS 12 will include a screen control feature that helps users know how much time they spend on the screen. It will also have widgets that allows users to set restrictions on how much time they want to spend on each app allowing for a more detailed control of screen time (MacRumors).

Users can personalize the screen time settings so that they can be notified when they are spending a lot of time on the screen or on an app.

Another interesting fact is that the screen time feature can allow users to set up parental control on how their children use the devices. More information is available on Mac World.

2. Notification Management

Normally in previous iOS versions, notifications received on the lock screen come as a thread of notification from different apps so that users will have to go through all of them as they would a thread. The new iOS 12 is different in the way it is organized.

Now notifications show in groups according to the apps they are from and users can easily select what group of notifications they want to view.

Fossbytes explains how the notifications settings are easier to manage than they used to be. In iOS 12, users can simply slide a notification left to reveal a set of operations they can perform; i.e., delete and turn off.

Images of how these work are available on MacRumors.

3. Picture Filters

It is no news that apple devices have amazing cameras that produce top-notch images. That is one of the things apple users love about them.

“The iOS 12 makes photos even more fun by the inclusion of more filters. The new update makes using the iPhone cameras more interesting than it was, especially with the new memoji.”

Techradar explains how young people may not always want to just use their faces during FaceTime. Memojis, when used, can mimic facial movements like a wink and/or a tongue out, as well as some eye movement.  This can be seen in the CNBC video.

Memoji is not the only emoji addition to the iOS 12 update, the animojis available have also received a little addition and also share in the tongue out feature.

4. The Measure Tool 

The new iOS 12 update has a feature and improvement in measure tool that makes it handy. This is beyond just being fun for its users. This update can come in handy with conversations of work where a person may have to communicate measurements of objects they are faced with to others over the phone.

They do not have to find measuring tools because the iOS 12 measurement feature can help them.

That is not just as good as it gets, as explained on TechRadar, the measurement apps can also work with images previously taken and not just real time camera feeds. This measurement may not be accurate, but it could at least be a good enough approximation.

The measure app is an AR feature, but is not the only AR improvement made in the iOS 12 as discussed further below. It is an interesting way to interact with the 3-D environment around you.

5. More Interactive Siri

This new iOS has improved on Siri. Siri is popular as an iOS/digital assistance, and iPhone users particularly enjoy the help it provides.

This new iOS update has made Siri even more interactive by its ability to speak more languages and to make suggestions to problems.

Siri does this by making use of data of sites that have been previously visited and those that are often visited and use that to make suggestions.

As explained on Digitaltrends, Siri will not only be able to make suggestions, but a Siri shortcut feature added can allow Siri to function as a reminder for some tasks.

Task such as, informing colleagues about missing a meeting schedule, finding lost keys and more. Even though setting up these shortcuts may be a little tasking at the start, the benefits in the long-run out weight how stressful it appears, since Siri will now be “smarter.”

6. Improved Overall Performance

Apple in their statement about the improvements on the iOS 12, mentioned the idea of a better performance on their devices.

Apple wants to make sure the performance speed of devices as far back as the iPhone 5s are seamless and effective in shorter times.

In this attempt as explained by Apple, the battery life will be improved as well as the performance with up to 40% for app launch, with  a smoother animation, and shorter time in the loading keyboard.

Digitaltrends explains how the CPU performance rate will be automatically adjusted to allow for a longer battery time. Considering the complaints about the last iOS update, this improvement is welcomed and needed.

In addition, to force close an app all a user has to do is to swipe up rather double tap the home button.

7. Improved group FaceTime images

Images of people on group FaceTime has never been better. The new iOS update improves this imagery.

Group FaceTime now allows up to thirty-two users to be connected at the same time. Each user has a part of the screen where their personalized tile appears.

Viewing any user at any time is easy by tapping their tile. The tile is then brought to front and enlarged to view them fully. At the same time, any user that is actively speaking will automatically have their tile enlarge on the screens of each connected users.

This means a better image experience for everyone in the FaceTime chat!

FaceTime is now connected to i-message and can be setup and accessed from there. The new bitmojis and filters are also available for use on the group FaceTime chat too. You can view a demonstration here.

Group FaceTime improvement is not limited to video chats. They are also available on audio and can be answered with the use Apple smart watches.

8. Device Access

The iOS is bringing in major improvements to how a device is protected from the public, so that users can use face detection more conveniently.

There are also improved privacy of the apps and files on the device.

Fossbytes and Gadjethacks elaborates on how Safari has been improved to lock out third parties from accessing data on the device without permission. There are also improvements in storing password information, so that users feel safer protecting their information with complex passwords.

A further breakdown on Macrumors is the improved security of the new iOS 12: 

• Password auditing: Users are notified if the password they have used is weak
• Facial ID: There is an allowance to include an alternative image or face ID. This means that users can register another person’s face or decide to wear a face accessory they usually wear and register that as an alternative ID image.

9. Updated Apps

Apps update on the new iOS 12 are interesting to look at especially the car play app and the Stocks app as reviewed on CNBC and Apple.

Car Play App

Apple is notorious for only being able to operate and fully sync with apps on their store.

“Unlike android devices, which can work with apps from different producers, the new iOS 12 has an improved Car Play app.”

The Car Play app can now work with third-party navigation apps like Google Maps. This is interesting seeing that some people may prefer using google maps to navigate and/or find locations as they are more accurate than Apple maps.

Stocks App

The stock app is also handier on the iOS 12. It now features news feed directly from Apple allowing users to avoid switching between apps.

Apple Books App

This app is built to make it easier for users to find and download e-books and audio books online. The new design of the app is friendly and easy to use.

Voice Memos App

On the new iOS 12, there is no need to transfer audio record files between devices. Users can now access audio recordings from another device by granting permission.

10. Emergency Tracking from 911

The new iOS 12 makes its users easier to locate in times of emergency increasing their personal security.

This is done on an automated system where the location of a user is sent to the emergency line when dialed. The location goes through a series of tracking networks like Wi-Fi data, GPS data, and cell tower data.

This technology is called the Apple Hello technology.

Apple Hello technology ensures that the location information is sent only to the emergency network when the user calls them.

Trusted Reviews also pointed out that this feature has only been announced to function with US emergency services.

11. The Do Not Disturb Feature

In addition to the new personalization allowed on the screen time, there is also a ‘do not disturb’ feature included. Both of them work in order to aid users and help them effectively manage their time. The do not disturb feature is helpful at night time and when driving to avoid unwanted interruptions.

12. New AR Experience and Interaction

The Measure App mentioned earlier is a part of the new improvements. The iOS 12 is made more interactive by including features that can be a shared user experience in the same virtual space.

A more detailed explanation of what this can open up for users is available on Techradar by Fitzsimmons (2018). It explains how multiple users can interact on the same virtual scene and make adjustment. This added experience will be interesting for gamers. It may encourage more people to participate in the virtual world allowing for a fun production.

As you can see, there are a wide range of helpful additions on the new iOS 12. Some of which have provided solutions to a lot of complaints previously made by Apple users.

While there are more things available in the new iOS, these twelve are highly anticipated and are making everyone excited for the new release to come.

I hope this article helped you understand the new iOS 12 update for Apple users.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post Top 12 Best Features in iOS 12 appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

The digital world we have today is one that’s fast evolving. And as far as apps go, users are a lot more attracted to visual content.

They pay far less attention to long pieces of written content and are leaning towards high-quality images and videos a little more every day.

Instagram, one of the most popular apps in the world, is an app that houses all these features and is built solely for editing and sharing pictures, videos, and other visual content.

Instagram has taken over visual streams and was recently named one of the top ten most downloaded apps in the world.

Since its inception, Instagram has reported huge success leaving many app developers with dreams of building a similar app that performs almost all the same features.

As good as this idea is, creating an app like Instagram involves a lot of features—all of which have different cost implications. These factors are highlighted below:

App Size

App size refers to the total amount of both the features and functionality.

To keep costs reasonable, especially for a new app, tech experts advise that developers maintain a reduced app size.

In the first version of the app, it’s recommended to only add the most important or core app features. This is also known as a minimum viable product (MVP). After the MVP is created, you and your developer can decide to add other features in subsequent versions of the app.

Available Platforms

For an app like Instagram, you’ll need to consider the platforms on which your app will be available as the price of development differs from platform to platform. For example, creating a mobile app on the iOS platform is rather expensive compared to the Android and Windows platforms, both of which come at a relatively lower rate.

Design

The design and interface play an important role in pricing because, in the end, those two aspects are what engage users and keep them connected long-term.

[clickToTweet tweet=”If you’re looking for a sophisticated design, be prepared to pay a bit more.” quote=”If you’re looking for a sophisticated design, be prepared to pay a bit more.” theme=”style3″]

And while simple designs are available, it’s better to stick to a look that’s a more unique to set your brand apart. Once you hit the design phase, the app designer can provide a multitude of bold, eye-catching, or even minimalist designs for you to choose from.

Developers

To create an app like Instagram, you will need to hire the services of an app developer. These developers charge a fee, but it varies depending on their location, years of experience, level of expertise, etc.

New developers in the business won’t charge as much as developers who have been in the game for years and have extensive experience with a variety of platforms and have built a solid base.

App Features

Filters, background music, comments, live feeds, video length, etc. are all considered app features. These are the functions of the app your users might be most interested in.

As a general rule, the more features you incorporate into the app, the higher the cost of the final product.

Features like newsfeeds or activity feeds, user profiles, image manipulation, ratings, barcodes, reviews and QR codes also increase the costs as they require a lot more coding to ensure your app is functioning properly.

You can decide to add more advanced features like data synchronization, an in-app camera, push notifications, geolocation, and geotagging for a better user experience. Apps at least partially dedicated to communication can even house external features like in-app calling and messaging, secure data travels, and connections to third-party API and OTP readings.

Depending on your goals, they’re all worth considering. These features can make your app more sophisticated than those of your competitors and give your brand a competitive edge. Your options are nearly limitless, but remember, more features means a higher price tag.

Safety

To earn the trust of app users, it’s important that you protect their personal information from hacking by cybercriminals. Access control methods like email ID’s, social media or one-time passwords can be a good way to keep the users’ information safe.

[clickToTweet tweet=”The more you invest in security, the safer the app is for your users.” quote=”The more you invest in security, the safer the app is for your users.” theme=”style3″]

In fact, internet and online safety can be an app’s biggest and most valuable asset.

App Interaction

Interactive measures like instant messaging or direct message option, social sharing, and universal linking should be incorporated into the app. These enhance the overall user experience and attract more prospective users.

The Final Price

A combination of all the features above and their functionalities play a role in the final cost of building an app like Instagram. And as you might imagine by now, the complexity of all the individual features makes giving an exact price a tad difficult.

Though it is a complicated question to answer, it is possible to obtain a close estimate.

Without considering the mobile platform of your app, a typical base starting price would be somewhere between $10,000-$15,000. This could potentially cover everything from support, to maintenance, to the overall performance of the extremely content-driven and automated processes found in an app like Instagram.

Once we finally factor in the cost of the mobile platform it will launch from, the price varies a bit more.

Based on research, design, technology, and business logic, an app like Instagram can run as low as $7,000 to as high as $15, 000 for Windows phone.

This is by far the cheapest option possible after all its features are considered.

For Android devices, an app like Instagram can cost about $32,000.

As for the iOS counterparts, development would be at least $40,000.

Given that most iOS supported mobile apps are heavier than their Android and Windows counterparts, the price of the iOS version shouldn’t come as a shock.

If you’re planning on making your app available on all platforms, your final price can end up at about $100,000 to cover all the key features Instagram-like app.

Needless to say, building an app like Instagram requires quite the investment to ensure excellent quality and a strong network of users. Once your app is finally complete, it’ll need a good maintenance team to constantly update and improve its features.

Find out how much it cost to build your app using our Mobile App Cost Calculator.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post How Much Does it Cost to Build an App Like Instagram? appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

If you’ve found yourself asking, ‘which is best for me and or my company?’ you’re in the right place.

The answer to the native/hybrid question depends on your priorities, and you should factor in some of these questions:

• How fast do you need the app developed?
• What goal are you trying to achieve?
• What is your budget for app development?
• What features do you need?
• How important is user experience?

What is a native app?

One of the first things that differentiate native apps from hybrid apps is that they are designed and developed for specific devices and operating systems. Because the app is developed for a specific operating system, it could only be accessed only from that dedicated app store. Android apps are written in Java and/or Kotlin, and iPhone apps are written in Objective-C and/or Swift. Native apps (i.e., apps that are designed for a specific operating system) are traditionally faster and more reliable when it comes to user experience. Another great advantage of native apps is that the app integrates beautifully with the devices operating system features such as the camera, microphone, contact list, GPS, etc. When an app is developed in its native environment, not only does it run faster but the user interaction is seamless. The user is able to learn and navigate through the app much more fluidly with a native base.

What is a hybrid app?

Hybrid apps at their core are websites packaged into native app wrappers. In other words, a hybrid app is a web app built using HTML5, JavaScript or some other web technology. Hybrid apps load information on the page as the user navigate through the app similarly to how the user would experience a website. While native apps usually download their content when the user first installs the app, a hybrid app loads most of the information as the user navigates through the app. If done well, a hybrid app will have the look and feel of a native app.

Hybrid apps are usually easier and faster to develop than native apps. They also require less maintenance and so may be more cost-effective to produce. The hybrid app speed usually depends on the user’s browser since it uses many of the web features. For this reason, hybrid apps typically will be slower than native apps. Because the hybrid app is web-based, you can build them on a single code base which allows you to add new functionality to multiple platforms.

Which one is best for me?

We would typically recommend building a native app on the iOS platform first and then transitioning to building an Android version. Of course, a bigger budget is required if you want to build an app on multiple platforms while keeping the native apps code bases updated.

In fewer words, the advantages that native applications have the best performance, higher security, and better overall user experience. They, of course, have the added advantages of being able to easily access the users’ device capabilities. Hybrid apps are made from a single codebase, unlike native apps where you’ll have to maintain two or more code bases. This brings down the maintenance necessary for the hybrid app compared to a native app. Ultimately, before deciding, you’ll have to ask yourself, “what’s more important to me?”

After reviewing your options, it’s important to discuss them with your app development firm to decide what is best you, your business, and which is most cost-effective. Here at Dynamik Apps, we will help you choose the right platform for your app idea to make sure your project is successful.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post Native vs Hybrid Apps Pros and Cons appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

The giant strides in technology have ushered in a new era for businesses everywhere.

Before the advent of mobile technology, the only digital means most brands had to generate sales was through social media platforms and websites.

Today, evolving times have made building custom mobile apps the go-to method for businesses to experience profitable success. Studies show that just last year, smartphone users downloaded almost two hundred billion apps!

In fact, the amount of time people spent on using apps has almost tripled as apps are now central to users, prompting entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into apps.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to build a mobile app, you’ll need to know how much the process can cost.

But first, you will need to decide which type of app you’re building for your business.

1. What type of app do you think would be reliable for your business?
2. Will the app be public or exclusive to internal users?
3. Will it be simple and informative, or interactive with customer care agents?
4. Will the app serve a long-term or short-term purpose?

And the list doesn’t stop there. All the questions above and more need answers to determine your requirements and the cost of the app.

Your developer can provide you with estimates, but it’s nearly impossible to quote a fixed number at the very beginning of your project. This is majorly due to the complexity of app development process itself.

Throughout the course of any project, there are several factors that all ultimately affect the final cost.

Before your estimate can begin, a developmental cost breakdown is necessary to determine what kind of features your app will need. The breakdown also dives into some of the major aspects of your app that will help decide its final price.

Some of those factors may include:

• Supported platforms
• App Purpose
• App Type: Native or Hybrid

Supported Platforms

Perhaps the most important factor, deciding the platform you want your app to run on is a huge factor in determining price. You need to decide if the app would be supported by Apple, Android or Window platforms or a combination of all three.

The cost of each platform varies as it ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 . If the app will be available on all the platforms, you can generally expect a higher price tag.

Purpose

Your app needs to have a specific purpose. If you’re on a tight budget and want to cut costs, we recommend a single purpose app.

For example, if the app is meant for online financial transactions alone, it would cost less than if it is built for multiple financial functions.

While multipurpose apps are more versatile, they will undoubtedly cost more to develop. Depending on how engaging you want your product to be, it’s an investment worth considering.

Native Vs. Hybrid Apps

Deciding between either a native or a hybrid app also affects the final cost of mobile app development.

Native apps are apps created for a specific operating system like Windows, iOS or Android.

These apps are “native” to the platform you intend them to run on. If you plan on targeting all three platforms with your app idea, your developer will need to build separate apps, each native to a specific platform.

Alternatively, a hybrid app is one that’s “wrapped” in a native framework built with strong languages like JavaScript and HTML.

These kinds of apps work on multiple operating systems and make it so your developer only needs to build one. However, they don’t function as well as native apps, and by comparison, they load much slower.

Most apps developed by businesses are native apps given how much better they function. However, it’s best to consult with a tech expert as to which app type suits your business the best.

After you’ve decided on an app type, your developer can finally start to craft an estimate for your project.

Actual Cost and Price

If you’re considering bringing your mobile idea to life with an app, it’s important to note that the cost of building the app depends its overall complexity and robustness. Other influencing factors include the app design, native versus hybrid platform, development life, and so much more.

That being said, the cost of developing a mobile app largely depends on its features, its uniqueness, the location, as well as the skills, expertise, and efficiency of the team of developers.

Though it isn’t possible to give you an exact price as to how much your project will cost, an estimate can be provided.

Here are a few ballpark numbers you can use to get an idea of how much it’ll cost to build an excellent app:

• For native apps, you’ll need to hire at least two native application developers for both the iOS and Android platforms at no less than $120,000 per year. That is about $10,000 per month.
• A UI/UX designer is also necessary on either on a part-time or full-time basis. These designers charge as high as $6,500 per month which can cost as much as $80,000 a year.
• To be able to correct any problems the app may run into, you should also consider hiring an Engineer. Their services cost up to $80,000 per year ($6,500 per month).
• And finally, an efficient team to manage the application costs about $120,000 in a year which is about $10,000 in a month.

These above  costs also vary on how complex the app will be.

“A simple app would take less than ten weeks to build while complex apps can take over 28 weeks to develop.”

For iOS-enabled devices, general prices might look like the following:

• Simple Apps: $1,000-$4,000
• Game Apps: $10,000-$250,000
• Database Apps: $8,000-$50,000

For Android devices, the numbers are a bit different:

• Elementary Apps: $25,000-$35,000
• Standard Apps: $45,000-$55,000
• Complex Apps: $55,000-$100,000
• High-tech Apps: $75,000-$150,000

The development of mobile apps doesn’t end after they’re launched.

There are other maintenance costs that are incurred almost immediately. Things like bug reports, suggestions, etc. all require ongoing maintenance to make sure your users get the best service at all times. And although a team of app developers is technically optional, tech experts recommend securing a team at least until the application bugs are fixed, and the product is stable.

Once that stable version is in place, you can hire the developing team on a contract basis to keep the app running smoothly for your consumers.

Though professionally built apps can be expensive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the best way to build a successful app is to spend tons of money. Rather, your best bet is to hire a competent team that’s willing to do the extensive work to make sure your mobile app runs smoothly.

The right team will learn about the app goals, analyze several case studies, watch videos, read books, and talk to the appropriate experts to ensure you get the best product.

The process takes a while, but it is always well worth it in the end.

Remember, it takes a series of consistent steps to get this done. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day and total cost of developing the app largely depends a lot of closely related aspects.

The important takeaway message here is that app costs given at any point in time are almost never final. App costs are subject to change as your app progresses and your product is brought to life.

Find out how much it cost to build your app using our,

Mobile App Cost Calculator.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post How Much Does It Cost to Build A Great Mobile App? appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

Since the entry of smartphones, there has been a significant shift in the way human beings access information.

Thanks to fast-paced technological advancement, the usefulness of phones has gone far beyond just calling, texting, and playing games.

Now, it almost seems like there is no limit to what our smartphones can do. From making video calls to identifying songs to scanning documents, shopping online, and even learning a new language, these technologies put a host of information directly in our hands.

With the integration of personal digital assistants on mobile platforms, (Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Google personal assistant), smartphones have become the primary access point of internet usage.

The expansion of the mobile phone market is directly responsible for the increase in the demand for mobile applications. Mobile applications, popularly referred to “apps,” are application software developed for handheld devices (i.e., smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices).

According to research, Facebook, one of the top mobile messaging networks in the world has about 1.3 billion users who access the social network only via the mobile app. Essentially, most users would rather access mobile properties via the mobile app than the mobile browser.

There are several categories of mobile apps including tools, social network, communication, photo, games, etc. There are about 3.5 million mobile apps available in Google Play Store, the top app store in the world available to Android devices. Also, there are about 2.2 million mobile apps available in the Apple App Store for iOS (iPhone/iPad) users.

It is projected that by the year 2020, mobile apps will be generating almost $190 billion in yearly revenue.

Mobile applications are taking over the smartphone world. A time will come where businesses will have to develop mobile apps for their customers to provide better services.

There are a lot of things a developer must consider while developing an app. Some of such considerations is the businesses’ efficiency and increased productivity, as well as the clients’ satisfaction while using the app.

A factor that help developers optimize the features of a mobile application is known as Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This article will give an in-depth review of Minimum Viable Product and its relevance in developing mobile applications.

What is Minimum Viable Product?

In 2011, Eric Ries, a business start-up consultant published a book titled ‘The Lean Startup.’ The book documented Ries’ experience in building start-ups and popularized an approach to product development. This approach centered on building the products by removing excess features to keep things simple. Ries called this concept the Minimum Viable Product.

So what is MVP?

In the context of mobile applications, a minimum viable product is a development technique in which a new product/application is developed with just the basic features to get the interest of consumers and satisfy them as well.

This version is used to collect validated information on the consumer’s needs and preferences concerning the mobile app to build a better and more advanced version. In other words, a minimum viable product is the first version of a new product, like a beta version, which allows developers and the team behind the product gauge and assesses the consumer’s response to the product.

The MVP also allows the team to learn its strengths and weaknesses, the features consumers want to see, the least used features on the app, etc. The final and full-fledged application with the complete set of features is only designed and developed after considering feedback from the product’s initial users.

Why is Minimum Viable Product important?

Creating a minimum viable product before releasing the final version of the app with a bulk of features is a better and more efficient approach to app development. Below are some of the reasons that prove this point.

Faster market entry

There are hundreds of thousands of apps in the world, and there is a great possibility that an app that solves a similar problem to the one you intend to develop already exist or is still in development. As MVPs require little effort and thus time, adopting this model will help launch the product in the market faster beating out potential competitors and giving the developer a possible edge over others.

Also, with faster entry into the market, will give the app ample time to gain popularity before the release of the upgraded and enhanced version.

Test run the app in the market

Building a minimum viable product helps test the application in the market. By releasing the basic version first, the developers can track the progress of the app in the market and assess the success rate of the app based on consumer feedback. Before an app is released, every form of testing and experimentation is internal, and nothing compares to the launching of the app in the real market.

The real market is controlled by a variety of factors beyond the developer’s control, and the best way to analyze the performance of an app and the level of interest from customers is to test it in an uncontrolled environment.

Minimize development cost

More features and components in apps mean more funds to finance the project. Since an MVP is the simplest version of a product, it is void of all the extra and probably unnecessary components. The less complicated the app, the lesser the resources required to develop it. So, if you can minimize your development cost and still release an app with just the basic and core features that provide a solution to clients need, why not?

Save time and effort

The idea behind developing an MVP is that it takes up as little amount of time and efforts as possible. The feedback from users on the first version will help developers better channel their energy, time, and resources to tailor an app that reflects the requirements of the clients to create a more engaging and user suitable mobile application.

Attract investors

An MVP cam act like a demo presentation to potential investors who may be interested in investing in an app. By putting out the core features, the developer presents the essence of the app with the promise of an upgrade to the investor. If the MVP sustains the interest of an investor, then the full-fledged app will pretty much overwhelm and impress the investors.

How to create Minimum Viable Product

The MVP is the minimum, meaning the mobile app development process should involve as little time and effort to create it as possible. However, this does not mean releasing an inoperable application, just enough features to accelerate validated learning. Outlined is a five-step process of creating an MVP.

Step 1: Identify and understand the problem the mobile application will solve and the target market that will benefit from this.

• Why is this app needed?
• What problems will it solve?
• Who will this app be of use to?

Step 2: Analyze and evaluate your competitors un the market.

• Are there other similar apps on the market?
• How are their apps faring in the market?
• What can be learned from their mistakes and what challenges did the apps scale through?

Step 3: Define the user flow

• What is the main goal of this app?
• How will customers utilize this application?
• What is the simplest flow pattern that connects the problem this app is intended to solve the solution it presents?

Step 4: Outline, evaluate and prioritize all the necessary features of the app

• What is the one most important thing all customers utilizing the mobile app must accomplish?
• What are the most basic features that can see the accomplishment of that task?
• At this point you can arrange the features based on their order of priority; from the most important and necessary to additional features that the app can still function perfectly without.
• Remember it is called MINIMUM, the least practicable number of features to run the app.

Step 5: Build, test and learn

• Create and develop the application and ensure that it is ready for the alpha and beta testing.
• Alpha testing is usually done within a controlled group of people. Usually, friends and family before the app is officially launched in the market to a wider client base. The alpha testing phase is not always necessary and can be skipped altogether.
• Analyze the feedback from the early adopters of the beta version and consider implementing the necessary changes in the next feature.

It is pertinent to note that application can go through as many upgrades as necessary, developers do not have to implement all the required features of an app in the version following a beta release. The idea is to gradually trickle out the features and add-ons in a way that it doesn’t overwhelm the users or affect the performance of the application.

A perfect example of an application that utilized the MVP development technique is WhatsApp. The messaging app started out as a simple online chat platform to connect users with their contacts. New features were gradually introduced, and now, WhatsApp has a bunch of features from voice notes to video calls, to WhatsApp stories, etc. Today, WhatsApp is the top mobile messaging app in the world with about 1.5 billion active monthly users.

How to determine Minimum Viable Product

A minimum viable product is not an excuse to build a bad product; an MVP should deliver the very essence of a mobile application in its most basic form.

Here is a three-step guide on how to determine a minimum viable product.

1. Start out with the most basic version of the mobile application that addresses a small part of a problem.
2. Emphasize on the bigger picture while constantly upgrading the existing version of the app.
3. Release and reiterate.

Another example of a company that utilized the MVP methodology in its approach to mobile app creation is the famous taxi service company called Uber.

In 2010, Uber launched the first and beta version of the Uber app with the goal of connecting taxi drivers to iPhone owners to enable payment for taxi services via credit cards. Now, the ride-sharing app has incorporated fare-splitting feature, gamification elements, destination filter, multiple destinations and other innovative features that were lacking in the initial release.

As at December 2017, Uber’s valuation was set at $68 billion with over 40 million monthly riders; the most valuable startup in the US. Imagine if Garret Camp and Travis Kalanick had waited to have all those features installed in the first version before the release of the app, chances are, another company would have beat them to the release or Uber would have released a buggy app with performance issues that would deter customers from using the app.

One of the contributing factors to Uber’s success as a company is how they handled their startup project and app development when it was launched.

Other companies that have utilized the MVP methodology include Airbnb, Buffer, Foursquare, Dropbox, Facebook and of course, the top mobile messaging app in the globe, WhatsApp.

How to test Minimum Viable Product

Validation testing is an essential part of the MVP process as the app developers depend on the feedback to improve the app. Reactions to the user interface and experience from consumers help to determine the success of the app in the market and the ways to improve on the product. Some of the ways to conduct these tests include:

Customer interviews

Interview the target market for the app, take note of the most used features, the neglected ones, and the least liked ones.

Landing pages

Default page on the website, this is likely going to be the first page people visit when they google the app. Give a detailed overview of the app, its features, and goals, enough to sustain interest and evaluate customers based on that interest.

Explainer videos

Essentially a video that further explains the essence of the app and what problems it was created to solve. Share the video with the target market and gauge the interest from their reaction.

Crowdfunding

Sites like Kickstarter helps developers raise funds for their project. Sourcing for funds on a public platform is a great way to assess the success of the app based on the response to the crowdfunding.

Conclusion

The essence of the MVP technique in mobile app development is to release a product that can be continually improved based on feedback from the customers. The MVP model helps developers learn what users want to implement the changes in future versions of the app. This also allows them to enhance performance and serve the customers better.

The goal of MVP is to provide immediate value with minimal resources.

Developing a successful mobile application is not the easiest thing, and the market is competitive. Though the MVP methodology does not guarantee success, it is a classic start-up strategy, and so far, it has worked for several ‘big’ companies today.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post All You Need to Know About Minimum Viable Product appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

Few of us are creative enough to come up with the next big thing in the app store. You’ve found a niche or market that needs attention in a specific area and this prospective app will solve that problem.

You know what it needs to do, how you want your users to use it, and most importantly who it will benefit most. Your new app idea is more or less all figured out! Except of course, how to actually make the app itself.

The good news.

Not every iOS or Android app available in their respective stores was thought of and created by a tech wiz straight out of M.I.T. In fact, some of the biggest app-based success stores were founded or co-founded by people with no background in technology at all. Take political science major Tim Westergren, co-founder and former CEO of Pandora or Tim Chen, founder of NerdWallet who studied economics—not computers as great examples of non-techies bringing huge apps to life.

Many of our app development clients have absolutely no tech experience at all. And within today’s booming tech industry lies an innumerable amount of app and web developers who are more than willing to take on your project. But are they qualified to do so?

The challenge.

All code is not created equal. The app developer you choose will significantly impact the quality of your app, the user experience and the amount of maintenance it will need to keep it from crashing. At Dynamik Apps, all our work is presented front and center to help you make the right choice. A little bit of homework goes a long way. To save yourself a heap of agonizing work later, consider the following when hiring an app developer:

• Are they experienced?
• How well do we communicate?
• What is my budget?
• Is this developer trustworthy?

How do I find an app developer?

Well, you’re here at dynamikapps.com, an app development company so you’re well on your way in your online search. We offer a series of premium app development services for everything from simple apps to database apps and even social networks. We know the ins and outs of what makes a good developer. So how do you find the right one? And how do you know they’re worth the investment?

Experience is Everything

What has your programmer done in the past? Your app developer should be ready to provide a credible portfolio of everything they’ve done recently so you know just what to expect from their work. Check out this portfolio from Dynamik Apps to view some of our past projects from clients just like you.

Beware of Bad Communicators

Communication is key to developing your dream app. If you and your programmer are not on the same page, how can he/she understand how you want the finished product to perform? Apps require great attention to detail. And as any good programmer knows, a single misstep in code can have disastrous results for the end user. Find a team you can communicate well with who are always ready to answer your questions. At Dynamik Apps, you can visit our questions page for general inquires, or send us a message using this contact page. If direct email is more your style, info@dynamikapps.com is the best way to reach your app developer.

Build A Budget

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Think of the kind of app you want and consider the following:

• How complex do I want the app to be?
• How much maintenance will it need?
• What kind of app is it?
• Who will use this app?
• Does the app need any integrations?
• What specific features will the app need?

Spend some time writing out your ideas before you start consulting with a developer. The more you play with the kind of functions you want, the more familiar you will be with the process. In general, more complex the app, the more you can expect to spend for a high-quality program.

Familiarizing yourself with the basics in similar apps will increase your understanding of app development, strengthen communication between you and your developer, and help you build a reasonable project budget. Above all, trust your instincts. If someone is offering a full-fledged gaming app with multi-user functionality for $100, you should probably run in the opposite direction.

Finding Someone Trustworthy

With app development, you’re essentially trusting someone you do not know with a pretty important project. The importance of trust cannot be understated. If available, ask your developer for references and check them out yourself. See what other clients and companies have to say about the developer you’re considering. Rummage through their portfolio to make sure they can do the work they say they can do and check out their social media to scan for red flags and see how the company conducts itself.

To begin your vetting process for Dynamik Apps, we recommend starting out with our about us page.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post How to Find the Best App Developer appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

Should I develop my apps for iOS or Android mobile devices?

In this article I will show you the top 3 reasons I think you should go with iOS first. Keep in mind, the choice is ultimately yours. Hopefully after reading this article you’ll understand why I choose to develop apps on iOS first.

3 Reasons Why You Should Develop Your App on iOS First

1. Higher revenue
2. Shorter times to develop than Android
3. iOS has fewer operating system versions

Higher Revenue

In today’s app market, iOS continues to lead the way in terms of generating revenue. Revenue usually comes from app sales, in-app purchases, and through in-app advertising.

Many recent studies have shown that the average iOS user has more disposable income than the average Android user. The average iOS users make about $85,000 per year in the U.S. while the average Android user makes about $61,000 per year.

Over 40% of iOS users make more than $100,000 per year while less than 25% of Android users have an annual salary of $100,00.

Although iOS only holds 1/3 of the global market share and Android holds almost 2/3, iOS users spend over 80% more on in-app purchases than Android users.

Shorter Development Timeline

Building an Android app can take three times longer to build than an iOS app. The reasons why are:

• You would need to write approximately 40% more code on Android then you would need to write on iOS.
• The IDE (Integrated Development Environment) Apple provides for developing iOS application is a program designed to help you build other programs.
• Apple has one standard IDE called Xcode that is very fast and powerful. Xcode has a great user interface and a very intuitive shortcuts for building storyboards, templates and creating in-app controls.
• Xcode makes it easy to modify, compile, deploy and debug your apps.
• Android has many IDE’s with a variety of features that may lack important items needed for app development.
• There are six top IDE’s for Android development. These IDE’s are based on the developer’s preference and are not standard across the board.

iOS has fewer operating system versions

iOS has fewer OS (Operating System) versions which can reduce the cost, maintenance and updating of your app over time.

Android is an open-source operating system, whenever the most updated version is released, developers can make changes to the operating system to accommodate many different devices. This is a downside to an Android developer because the operating system may vary in different devices due to cell phone carrier needs.

The Android app you develop for your device, may not work correctly for another device made by another manufacturer or carrier due to the different versions of the latest OS.

Android operating system is fragmented meaning whatever current version of the operating system is released, there can be many more versions of that operating system.

Over 80% of iOS users are currently on the latest version of iOS. While less than 5% of Android users are on the latest version of Android. Another great stat is that almost 40% of iOS users update their OS during the first month it is launched.

Things to Remember

• iOS users typically have higher income
• Users are more engaged
• iOS users spend more money purchasing apps

When developing your app on the iOS platform you can expect that users are more likely to spend money to buy your app.

The bottom line is that an iOS app built correctly with a great marketing strategy earns more revenue.

If you are an app developer, you can focus on supporting the newest version of the operating system and can be certain that your application will work on the majority of iOS mobile devices.

Lastly, don’t forget that iOS dominates the mobile tablet market, which is another market you can develop apps for. In certain cases an iPhone app may be used on an iPad even though it’s best practice to create a native application for both iPhone and iPad.

I hope this article was helpful in your decision. Let me know what your experience has been with both Apple and Android.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

The post Should I develop apps for iPhone or Android? appeared first on Dynamik Apps | AI Automation that Grows Your Business.

The release of iOS 11 is just around the corner. I know you are anxious to learn what new features will be available. Apple has made many improvements while adding new items in iOS 11.

I will take you through the top 11 best features of the new iOS 11.

1. Siri Improvements

Siri is one of the features Apple continues to improve. Siri has now become smarter, which makes your life much easier.

You’ll notice in iOS 11 the more natural sounding male and female voice of Siri. In addition, Apple has given Siri a new user interface that displays multiple results per your request, as well as follow-up questions. This new interface even allows you to edit your voice request with text input.

Siri can now learn from you and is able to anticipate what you want and make suggestions before you ask.

Per Apple, everything is encrypted, so your personal information remains private.

One of my favorite new Siri features is its’ ability to translate phrases for you. Siri can translate English to Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. More languages will be added in the coming months.

2. Customizing Your Control Center

The control center has some exciting changes coming to iOS 11. The redesign looks simpler as the control center now exist on a single page. It will have sliders and key functions that users can customize to their own liking.

This means you can add your own button functions to the control center screen, which includes the default functions.

In addition to the default toggles such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and airplane mode, you are now allowed to add up to 18 additional options to your control center panel.

The current iOS 10 control center has two panels which you have to slide left to right or right to left in order to access all the controls.

iOS 11 now brings all the controls to a single screen and relies more on 3D Touch.

This makes a more clean and simplified look and a better user experience.

3. More Fun with Live Photo

The live photo feature is better and more powerful in iOS 11. The new editing tools allow your photos to be more expressive and creative.

This allows you to turn a live photo into a fun video loop or long exposure.

A very cool feature.

Long exposure helps you create beautiful photos known with high-end professional cameras.

Also, there’s an amazing bounce feature which makes your live photos rock back and forth. The still photos in iOS 11 will use a new photo format called HEIF high efficiency image format. According to Apple, this format will take only half the space compared to the previous image format.

4. Do Not Disturb While Driving

In today’s world of mobile devices, we are constantly distracted by text messages and notification alerts. Receiving alerts while driving can be distracting and very dangerous.

In iOS 11, Apple introduces “Do Not Disturb While Driving”. This feature allows your iPhone to sense when you might be driving and prevent you from being distracted by calls, text messages, and notifications.  It does this by using Bluetooth and/or motion sensors to figure out if you’re driving.

This feature can also be activated manually via your control center. In addition, you can go into your do not disturb settings to set up automatic response messages to all your incoming text. This will let people know that you are driving and you will get back to them as soon as you arrive to your destination.

There are additional settings that can be set for emergencies when you need a message to be sent, even if your phone is set to do not disturb.

 5. Maps Indoors

Have you ever arrived to a location and got lost while trying find your way around?

The Maps in iOS 11 will use your map to help you navigate your way around indoor spaces. Whether you’re going on a new adventure or just searching for the nearest coffee shop, Maps will make navigating through these spaces a lot easier.

The new airport feature on Maps takes the familiar 3D map view and moves it indoors. While in an airport, you can see all the stores, lounges, security checkpoints, terminals, and more.

The Maps will include major airports and shopping centers around the world.

At launch, Maps will have indoor support for malls in:

• Boston
• Chicago
• Hong Kong
• London
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• San Jose
• Tokyo
• Washington DC

Maps now helps you avoid missing a turn or exit by showing you which lane you should be in when navigating. You can also see the speed limit of the road you’re on so you have no excuse for speeding…just kidding.

6. Better Notes

Notes is the app that Apple continues to improve on in every iOS version. You will now find several new features including:

• Support for drag-and-drop
• A built-in scanner
• Mark up tools
• Ability to add tables to your notes

In addition, the iPad will allow you to press the plus sign to access an all new document scanner. You can scan several documents at once, automatically cropping the edges, removing any tilt or glaring and applying different filters. The scans can be saved inside your notes, and you can export them as a PDF file that can be signed and shared easily.

Another great feature that iOS 11 brings to notes is the ability to search for things you’ve written out by hand.

 7. Apple Pay’s in Message

In iOS 11, apple brings the convenience of Apple Pay to Messages. This feature will make it easier for you to send money or receive money from friends. Now sending money to friends or receiving money from friends is simple as a conversation.

You can use Apple Pay with your credit or debit card to send money instantly and securely right in Messages.

You can also request and receive money just as easily. The cash will exist in a virtual card called the Apple Pay Cash Card which exists within Wallets.

Wallets, is another built-in Apple app for storing credit cards, debit cards, boarding passes, tickets, and more. When you get paid, your money is kept securely in Apple Pay Cash. It is available for you to send to someone or spend in retail stores that accepts Apple Pay on the web, or transfer to your bank account.

8. QuickType Keyboard Improvements

Have you ever tried texting on your phone with one hand with a cup coffee in the other hand?

Back in the days of the iPhone 4S the screen size was only 4 inches. This made multitasking much simpler. Now we have phones with 4.7 and 5.5 inch screens, so typing with a single hand is a bit of a challenge.

Apple has provided a great solution with the quicktype keyboard. The quicktype keyboard makes it easier for you to type with one hand.  You can simply touch and hold on the emoji key. Select one hand typing and the keys will instantly move closer to your thumb.

You’ll now notice three new icons lined up alongside the bottom of the menu. These new icons let you move the entire keyboard to the left or to the right of the screens making typing with a single finger much easier.

Interestingly enough, the keyboard shrinks to the same size keyboard as the iPhone 4S which is a 4-inch size screen phone. When you want to return to the normal size keyboard, just tap the emoji key again, then hit the middle icon at the bottom of the menu.

One last thing to remember is that this feature will only be available for the 4.7 inch screen iPhone models and larger.

What’s new for the iPad?

9. Drag-and-Drop on iPad

One of the much-anticipated features that is finally on the iPad is the drag-and-drop feature.

Apple has made it very simple for you to simply drag and drop items such as text, photos, URLs and files from one app to another. This feature utilizes the large multi-touch display on the iPad and makes moving items simple and fun.

For example, you can drag and attach images from photos to mail or drag and copy and paste directions from Safari into Maps.

Even better, you can grab multiple things at once. They don’t even have to be in the same vicinity.

One of the special features of multi touch is the ability to drag items better than a desktop. On a desktop once you click on the item to move around you’re not able to interact with any other item on the screen.

When using multi touch, once an item on the screen is selected you can interact with other items on the same screen of the iPad. The bottom line is that you can touch and move just about anything to anywhere on the screen.

10. New File App for iPad

The new Files app brings all your files together similarly to what you would expect on a desktop or notebook computer. You can easily browse, search, and organize all your files in one place. Now, there’s a dedicated place for your recent files.

The amazing thing about this feature is that it’s not just the ones on your iPad, but also those in apps, on your other iOS devices, in iCloud Drive, and across other services like Box and Dropbox.

You’ll notice the classic nested folder structure.

Tap on a folder and then tap and hold in an empty space to create a new folder. Once inside a folder you’ll see files and folder in a grid view – with icons for all folders and files. If you prefer, you can switch to the list view by swiping down in the folder view and tapping the list view button.

List view displays more details – file size, modified date and a shortcut to download file. As I mentioned before, one of the biggest features in iOS 11 is the drag-and-drop and how intuitively it works across the entire OS and individual apps.

This feature is key on how you interact with the Files app. You can use this feature for file organization inside the Files app and to move files and documents to and from other apps. You can also preview file types like images and text files right inside the app.

If you have the corresponding app installed like a pdf viewer, tapping on the file will directly open it in the associated app. In addition, you can also preview zip files in File app. These are a few of the great feature to look forward to in using File app on the iPad.

11. New Dock for iPad

The new Dock is a ground-breaking change for iPad. It’s now available from any screen you are working in, similar to what you experience using Mac OS on a MacBook.

A simple swipe can open and switch apps instantly. The dock now holds up to 13 apps (landscape or portrait). The right hand of the dock has three positions which it saves for recent apps. The Dock also changes as you work by intelligently suggesting apps similar to the ones you recently opened.

I hope this article helped you understand the new iOS 11 update for Apple users.

Let’s make great things happen!

Handy

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