How the Right Mobile App Development Can Improve Productivity

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Mobile apps have emerged as innovative solutions in enterprise management. Organizational leaders view mobile apps as classic solutions for solving long-standing, traditional management problems.

The right mobile app can save you costs in personnel management, simplify business process development, and streamline organizational operations. In addition, mobile apps can help you keep in touch with your customers and reinforce your brand positioning.

However, of all the advantages achieved by innovative mobile app solutions, productivity is the most critical. Organizations are now tapping into mobile apps to bolster their organizational efficiency and productivity.

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So, how can the right mobile app development improve your productivity? Below we discuss some ways mobile apps are helping bolster organizational effectiveness and productivity.

1. Deadlines

Mobile app solutions provide alerts and notifications, helping you keep track of deadline-centric projects. Embedding alerts and notifications in your mobile apps will help employees keep deadlines and stick to set schedules.

Mobile apps will notify all your shop floor employees of due projects, thus keeping track of project milestones. In projects that require tracking such as construction, real estate, and manufacturing, having the right mobile apps will foster productivity by notifying and alerting employees on upcoming deadlines.

2. Monitoring

Monitoring your employees is critical in ensuring efficiency and overall workplace productivity. When not monitored, employees can fail to meet set expectations, leading to a loss of client trust and reduced productivity.

The right mobile app development guarantees better employee monitoring. Managers nowadays are adopting productivity suites like Windows 11, Slack, Teams, and Google Docs to keep track of their employees’ work.

Productivity apps enable employers and managers to monitor their employees. Constant monitoring ensures that managers focus on individual employees and can keep track of teams.

3. Security

Productivity can be impaired without the right security protocols. Lack of security measures and guidelines leads to potential threats that affect completed works. In addition, security loopholes affect mission-critical data, leading to delays in project deliverables.

Mobile apps are embedded with the right security infrastructure, allowing you to monitor and track important information and mission-critical data. In addition, mobile apps keep consumers safe and secure by guaranteeing data integrity and improving business process outcomes.

4. Visibility

Research shows app users spend an average of three hours on their mobile phones daily. That means that gaining the visibility of your potential clients is a critical aspect of being productive. So, mobile apps provide enterprises with the potential to capture and retain existing customers.

In addition, mobile apps enable organizational leaders to gain visibility on work progress. Projects, schedules, and management sheets need to be constantly fast-tracked. The right mobile app is a source of enterprise visibility, enabling you to take control of all your due projects – anytime and anywhere.

Gaining visibility of your enterprise operations is critical to being and remaining productive.

5. Personalization

Did you know that personalization is the next frontier of productivity? Well, mobile apps allow you to engage with your suppliers, managers, customers, and other stakeholders one-on-one.

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This narrowed interaction provides better management and fast-tracking of your business supplies and overall operations. Being in control means personalizing your mobile app so you can communicate and interact with your business stakeholders more closely. Mobile apps allow businesses to be more agile and flexible by personalizing customer interactions.

6. Branding

Reinforcing your brand enables you to take control of your marketing and seize new markets. Organizations view mobile apps as classic opportunities to foster their brands in new market segments.

The fact that young consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are adopting mobile apps at a rapid rate means that businesses can be more productive when they target emerging consumer niches.

That means organizations will spend less time and less money targeting emerging markets; and thus optimize their marketing spending. In addition, building your brand by targeting an emerging group of consumers allows you to save money while creating value.

7. Communication

A critical part of remaining productive is improving your internal and external communication. For instance, the emergence of new communication apps such as Slack, Google Chat, and Microsoft Teams helps managers to reinforce internal communications with their workforces.

In addition, these apps provide senior managerial leaders with the ability to fast-track schedules. The right mobile app development can help reinforce your internal communication, especially when monitoring progress and fast-tracking deadlines.

Communication is undoubtedly the secret ingredient of efficiency and productivity in any project lifecycle process.

8. Scheduling

Organizations and enterprises that work on fast-turnaround projects need efficient scheduling to meet project deliverables. For instance, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) sub-contract electrical manufacturing contractors to keep track of part components.

So, to sustain component demand from OEMs, electrical sub-contractors rely on strict schedules. Scheduling apps like Skedulo streamline the efficiency and productivity of teams and individual workers, helping organizations meet project deliverables promptly.

The right mobile app development can help you achieve optimal productivity levels solely by helping you build and maintain strict schedules. In addition, the right mobile app development can save you from the problem of missed deadlines and failed work.

9. Portability

Wireless devices enable employees to move around and work remotely without carrying bulky documents and paperwork. Organizations embracing new technologies such as big data, virtualization, and cloud are slowly enhancing operational efficiency.

The right mobile app development can help you to be more agile; because data can be transferred and processes automated. In addition, workflows can be delegated to the right parties and fast-tracked with ease.

The right mobile app development provides capabilities in remote working, helping your organization to be more efficient, transparent, and obviously, more productive than your competitors who rely on manual processes and paperwork.

10. Availability

Improved worker availability improves overall workplace productivity because employees are connected every time, regardless of where they’re. The right mobile app development can uphold your organizational data and make it available anytime when needed.

Ensuring data and employee availability guarantees better workflow. In addition, creating an accessible computing environment for all your employees ensures that deadlines can be met and projects tracked in real time. Faster tracking and accessibility of enterprise-critical resources guarantee improved productivity.

11. Performance

Did you know that the right mobile app development can help you track employee performance? Mobile tracking guarantees better team management because performance lets you know whom to keep and whom to let go.

The right mobile development can help you track key metrics – response time, maintenance, and costs. In addition, you know what specifically to improve and what to cut down.

Mobile apps rely exclusively on big data, making improved decisions based on real-time, actionable data. Performance measurement is important for organizations looking forward to tracking workforce performance. And organizations cannot accurately track performance without the right tools and technologies.

The right mobile app development can improve your workplace productivity in the following ways:

  • Customer relationship management
  • Inventory control and management
  • Vehicle and shipment tracking
  • Competitive positioning

The right mobile app development unlocks limitless opportunities for productivity, allowing your workplace to remain prepared even during unprecedented emergencies.

NS804 – A Potent Cocktail of Workplace Efficiency and Productivity

NS804 provides superior apps that help employer organizations schedule and track projects. NS804 works with a pool of software developers and engineers to deliver classic mobile app development solutions.

Organizations that seek to improve workplace efficiency and overall productivity can rely on tested-and-proven app development solutions. At NS804, we believe that gaining an edge in a highly competitive and saturated marketplace demands leveraging the right tools, including mobile app solutions.

Contact NS804 for innovative mobile app solutions needed to bolster your productivity.

5 Problems You Can Solve with the Right Mobile App Development Strategy

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Mobile app strategy refers to deploying the right mobile app to deal with overarching business challenges. Organizations of all sizes and sophistication look at mobile apps as the next frontier of enterprise innovation. So, mobile apps are being adopted to reach a wider market, achieve customer satisfaction and retention, and of course, respond to competition.

You can solve several enterprise challenges and needs with the right mobile app development strategy. Below we look at some of the most pressing challenges you can solve with the right mobile app strategy.

1. Data collection and data analysis

Did you know that consumers are today using mobile apps to shop? Well, the young generation of consumers has quickly adopted mobile app shopping as an easy and convenient model of accessing goods and services from e-commerce stores.

So, with the right mobile app development strategy, you can zero down into this emerging segment of tech-savvy consumers. A mobile app development strategy will help you collect critical data like shopping habits, shopping patterns, likes, and interests in new product categories.

Innovative companies know that the right mobile app will help you collect incredible data sets that you can use to make informed business decisions.

2. Customer service

Customer service is a critical component of your overall business strategy. With the right customer service, you can attract and retain customers with little cost. The right mobile app strategy can help you collect consumer feedback – complaints, disgruntlement, feedback, and recommendations.

This information is critically underpinning in making the right decisions about the quality and scope of your customer service. So, with the right mobile app strategy, it’s possible to identify the most pressing customer needs and make informed decisions from this data.

 

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3. Better internal communication

Did you know that mobile apps provide not just the opportunity to boost customer service, but equally reinforce your internal communication? Mobile apps allow you to communicate directly with your customers and your workforce.

Your customer service team can directly keep in touch with customers solely through direct messages. Innovative organizations understand that the employee monitoring process is quite critical but equally complex and time-consuming.

Thus, innovative organizations are adopting mobile apps to streamline and empower internal communication. The right mobile app development strategy can help you keep in touch with your employees on the most crucial business issues – marketing, customer service, complaints, innovation, research, and development.

4. Remote working

The ability to work remotely is not a capability you can derive from just any digital resource. Investing in the right mobile app strategy helps you to create a remote workforce – because tasks and processes can be initiated and closed solely through mobile apps.

As the world moves digital with new technologies such as virtualization, it’s critical that you embrace this shift. A mobile app development strategy that recognizes the need for remote working is all you need to adopt a remote lifestyle, not just for you, but also for your workers.

5. Customer engagement

Digital enterprises understand that the secret to digital success is customer engagement. A mobile app can build unmatched capacity for customer engagement. Leverage mobile apps to constantly engage with your customers through posts, new promotions, and advertising campaigns – smoothly and seamlessly.

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NS804 – Reinforcing Your Digital Strategy and Transformation

NS804 enables enterprises to adopt a paradigm shift in digital transformation. NS804 provides superior mobile app solutions that are tailored to individual business needs.

Contact NS804 for mobile app development solutions – android, IOS apps, and hybrid apps alike.

Questions About Android App Development? 9 Answers You Need To See

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Every appreneur or forward-looking business leader wants to know about Android app development. And that’s because Android dominates the mobile OS market, at a whopping 71% as of November 2022. With such a massive market share, it makes good business sense to push your apps onto this vibrant platform. 

And while Android plays a significant role in the mobile market, it’s also a platform that many don’t properly understand. That’s because it’s a platform that will run with Google Play Services or without if a user wants to DeGoogle their phone. In some markets, such as Russia and China, Google services are no longer an option without a VPN. 

Furthermore, Android doesn’t only run on mobile devices but also computers, game consoles, IoT devices, TVs, vehicle entertainment systems, and wearables. And since it supports such a wide range of devices, Android comes in various flavors, not dissimilar to the Linux ecosystem. While this is great and a testament to the versatility of Android, it also complicates things. 

The hard truth is that Android isn’t locked down like Apple’s iOS platform. So, there’s no simple one-size-fits-all approach here. Not that’s necessarily always the case with iOS, but it’s far less open-ended than Android. 

And given Android’s open-ended nature, this presents many challenges and opportunities. Ultimately, this will cause some to ask many crucial questions about Android app development, which we’ll answer in more detail below.

1. When Did Android Debut?

Android 1.0 launched on September 23, 2008, and was made available on the T-mobile G1/HTC Dream phone. Surprisingly, it was feature-rich at such an early stage. It featured Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a browser, a camera, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and several other applications and features.

2. Is It Similar To Linux?

Android isn’t only similar to Linux but sports a repurposed version of the Linux kernel combined with other open-source components. Google releases Long Term Support (LTS) versions of these kernels under the Android Common Kernels (ACKs) name. 

But that doesn’t mean Android apps will run on Linux and vice versa. Users will need a tool such as Anbox, which will set up a container on Linux to run Android apps. And while it’s possible to run certain Linux apps made with Java on Android, it’s a messy process that often requires cross-compilation. Understandably, this isn’t a practical solution for most Android users. 

Furthermore, not all Linux app developers will use Java but another programming language instead. So their apps will only run on an Android device via a Linux emulator, but there are no guarantees that they’ll run smoothly, fast enough, or at all. The optimal solution is for these developers to port their apps to Android and take advantage of its touchscreen functionality.

3. Is It Better Than iOS?

No. Only fanboys, platform holders, and some tech publications and journalists play favorites. As an appreneur or business leader, you only need to care about the potential of each platform. In this regard, Android offers a massive user base and a mature ecosystem that has already outpaced iOS. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore iOS, either.

4. What Tools Will I Need For Android App Development?

You will require a recent Windows, macOS, Linux, or Chrome OS computer capable of running the latest version of Android Studio. You will also need at least one test device — preferably running the latest version of the Android OS. While it’s possible to test your app using the Android Emulator (part of the Android SDK), you’ll still want to run it on an actual device.

Furthermore, you should download and install the Android SDK, Android NDK, and Java SE Development Kit (JDK). You can download Android SDK & NDK directly from Google’s Android developer portal and the JDK from Oracle. Read through the documentation thoroughly to configure all of these SDKs properly. 

While it’s possible to use other IDEs, Google recommends and officially supports Android Studio. And if you’re planning on developing native Android apps, then it’s best to stick to Android Studio in the long term. Consider using other IDEs, such as Visual Studio, if you’re developing cross-platform apps or mobile games.

5. Which Programming Languages Should I Use?

For native Android app development, choose either Kotlin or Java. But it’s preferable to go with Kotlin since Google officially supports and recommends it for modern app development. However, if you’re a cross-platform developer, you may want to go with C/C++, C#, Dart, JavaScript, or Python.

6. Which Engine Should I Use For Mobile Game Development? 

We recommend Unity since it’s the most popular, versatile, and well-supported engine for mobile game development. Also, it’s a good option for 2D & 3D game development, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) experiences. But if you require a more heavy-duty engine for creating games with high-fidelity visuals, then you’ll need to go with Unreal Engine.

Either way, you’ll likely use Visual Studio as your IDE or each engine’s visual scripting component. If you want to use Android Studio for game development, you’ll need a game framework instead. One of the best frameworks for native Android game development is libGDX.

7. Will I Need Any Additional Tools For Game Development?

If you’re developing an intensive 3D game, you’ll probably put plenty of stress on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Thus, you’ll need a way to analyze draw calls and monitor your game’s performance frame-by-frame. Luckily, most mobile GPU manufacturers and even ARM offer graphics analyzers and profilers for these purposes.

While it’s possible to ship a mobile game without using these profilers, you risk shipping it with undetected graphical issues. And given that your game needs to run equally well on devices that support different graphics libraries, such as OpenGL ES, OpenCL, EGL, and Vulkan, it’s wise to profile your app before release.

8. Should I Only Focus On Google Play Store?

The beauty of the Android platform is that you have plenty of options besides the Google Play Store. If you’re willing to acquaint yourself with the requirements and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) of other stores, you’ll find many more avenues to reach new audiences. 

After the Google Play Store, you should consider the Amazon Appstore, which runs on Fire OS devices and even on Windows 11. And don’t forget that large smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei have their own app stores, and both have sizable audiences.

9. How Do I Get The Most Out Of My Android App?

One of the best things about Android app development is the free tooling that’s available. And one of the best free tools is none other than Google Analytics for Firebase. The Firebase SDK will give you access to a reporting suite that allows you to monitor up to 500 pre-defined events. Moreover, its analytics reports will give you a clear picture of your app’s performance, your marketing endeavors, and user behavior.

In Conclusion

Android app development is worthwhile even though it’s complex and sometimes plagued with difficulties. But it has become easier thanks to the introduction of Kotlin and an ever-improving Android Studio and tooling. Contact NS804 if you have any more questions about Android app development and how we can help you create outstanding apps. 

4 App Development Mistakes To Avoid On iOS

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If you’re a registered Apple Developer, you’ll likely want to minimize potential app development mistakes and create profitable apps for iOS. And while that’s a worthwhile goal, it’s also incredibly challenging. Apple may have delivered a phenomenal platform for developers and users, but they don’t make life easy for developers.

And that’s because Apple expects developers to adhere to their App Store Review Guidelines. Also, developers must familiarize themselves with Apple’s development, design, and brand and marketing guidelines. Not only is there plenty of documentation to get through, but it will likely take time to implement, especially if you’re new to iOS development. 

Moreover, there’s always a risk of making app development mistakes if you become too scattered trying to comply with these guidelines while attempting to create a great app. But you can accomplish your app development goals with these handy tips.

1. Focus On iOS Initially

If you have limited resources or little experience in mobile app development, focus on iOS for now. You can always port your app to Android and other platforms at a later stage. It’s better to laser focus on a single platform (iOS, in this case) if you’re working on your first app. This way, you’ll familiarize yourself with all the ins and outs of the iOS platform. 

And you’ll have the additional incentive to develop a native iOS app versus a hybrid app. Thus, you’ll have a better-performing app with a user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) that feels native to iOS.

2. Use The Right Development Environment

You’ll need an Apple Mac, Xcode, the iOS SDK, and an iOS test device to develop iOS apps. In most cases, this will remain your primary iOS development environment. But if you’re developing cross-platform apps or mobile games, you’ll need additional tools or alternatives to Xcode. 

For cross-platform apps, you may consider Visual Studio with Xamarin or Flutter with Android Studio. And for game development purposes, you may want to install Unity with Visual Studio or Unreal Engine with Visual Studio.

3. Learn Apple’s Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) And Frameworks

Developers unfamiliar with Apple’s APIs and frameworks often make crucial app development mistakes and end up with bugs and performance issues. So, take the time to learn the Metal API to access the graphics processing unit (GPU).

And learn the UIKit and SwiftUI to create impressive accessibility options, animations, controls, inputs, UIs, and views, to name a few. Be careful how you implement these frameworks, as they’ll impact your app’s structure, data, and resources. 

4. Implement The Latest Swift Features

Swift is Apple’s flagship programming language, and it’s constantly evolving. So, you should always use the latest version of Swift to access its latest features. As of Swift 5.5, it’s possible to write high-performance asynchronous code. And this results in more responsive apps, as data is parsed in a background queue while the screen refreshes.

The Bottom Line

Avoid app development mistakes that have the potential to derail your project. Always follow Apple’s guidelines closely, and become familiar with the iOS platform. Use Apple’s recommended development tools, learn the APIs and frameworks, and implement the latest Swift features. Following these simple steps will result in phenomenal iOS apps that engage users. Contact NS804 today to learn how we’ll help you make the most of the iOS platform! 

Android Developers Richmond, VA

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The Android operating system has over 70% market share worldwide, making it a dominant force in the thriving mobile app market. Google continues to come up with exciting, feature-rich applications, driving entrepreneurs to desire a piece of the Google pie.

Today, more than ever, entrepreneurs are looking for enhanced security and scalability, and Android apps seem to be meeting this demand. Today, Android apps are the new frontier, driving sales for enterprises seeking unique and innovative solutions.

And if you’re running a business in Richmond, Virginia, you need a custom-built Android app to help you target and retain Android users. So, what do you benefit from when you contract or hire Android app developers in Richmond, Virginia?

Well, let’s take a look:

1. Higher Returns on Investment (ROI)

The Android Software Development Kit is open-source software readily available to developers. In addition, Android app development is cost-effective and budget-friendly to enterprises operating with a cost-structure model in mind.

The Android app development has four stages:

  • App design
  • App development
  • App testing
  • App deployment

In addition, the entire development cycle is cost-effective, making it easier for enterprises to attract a good return on investment. So, if you’re looking for an affordable, cost-effective mobile app development solution, you’re in the right place. Android mobile app development delivers on its promise.

2. Substitute for Bring Your Own Device

Bring Your Own Device, commonly abbreviated as BYOD, is an evolving trend in most enterprises. Most organizations are not encouraging their employees and co-workers to bring their own devices to enhance collaboration and communication in the workplace, regardless of distance.

So, with Android app developers Richmond, VA, you are guaranteed to promote collaboration across your Richmond team of workers. Android mobile app development allows your employees to collaborate on shared projects without losing touch on crucial matters.

3. Easy Customization

Did you know Android is a versatile and easy-to-customize platform with enhanced flexibility and agility? What you get with Android mobile app development is an innovative app with varied customization options. As a robust operating system, Android can integrate both simple and complex modifications, enhancing your business functionality across the board.

4. Security and Marketing

Since its inception, Google has launched many varied business-friendly features. Today, Android stands firm against its counterpart Apple, especially regarding usability and security. It’s hard for malware and other third-party viruses to locate Android’s data structures, making the OS a safe and secure enterprise application.

In addition, the Android operating system allows an automated system to send instant notifications to the end-users, keeping them updated on important issues. In addition, you can easily monetize your Android app, thanks to its already existing prevalence and reputation.

In a way, Android mobile app development gives you shared benefits – security and promotional capabilities.

NS804 – Maestro of Android Mobile App Development

NS804 serves enterprises across Richmond, Virginia, allowing these brands and businesses to take advantage of an already existing, superior application – Android. So, if you live in Richmond and you’re looking for trusted and secure Android app development solutions, look no further.

NS804 is your trusted Android Developer in Richmond, allowing you to design, develop, test, and successfully deploy your Android App.

Contact NS804 for time-to-value Android app development solutions.

How to Find Your Lost Phone?

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Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Today, billions of people across the world use their phones for much more than basic tasks such as making phone calls and texting. We use smartphones for navigation, reading books, booking cab rides, monitoring our daily exercise and health, and even monitoring our children’s education and whereabouts.

These devices hold memories and secrets that we probably don’t want to fall into the wrong hands. That is why when you can’t locate your phone in the usual places you get an unsettling feeling of fear, dread, and panic. Not just because of the personal information and memories but also because of the cost of smartphones.

Fortunately, there are some in-built tools to help track your lost or missing android smartphone or iPhone. Additionally, there are third-party applications that you can download to track your phone.

Let’s look at some ways to find your missing phone.

1. Use Google’s Find My Device to Find Your Android Phone

The Find my Device feature is an in-built tool for all android smart devices. With this feature, you can find your lost android phone, lock it or erase it. The Find My Device feature is automatically turned on if you have added a Google Account to your android phone.

To track, lock or erase your lost phone using Find My Device your phone has to be on, connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi, and have location turned on. And definitely, Find My Device must be turned on to make sure that your phone is visible on Google Play.

To find your lost phone go to android.com/find. This is the website run by Google Services from which you can find and lock your lost phone. Sign in with the Google account that is linked to your phone. And in case your phone has multiple profiles, be sure to use the primary google account to sign in to this website.

You don’t have a computer to sign in to the browser? Don’t worry. You can still use this feature from another android device. Go to Google PlayStore and download the Find My Device application and log in with the google account linked to your phone.

Once you sign in with the right account, Google starts to locate your phone. The app will pinpoint where the phone is on the map or where it was last located if it is switched off. There is a menu on the left of the app or site from which you can choose the action you want to take.

Here are the options available:

  • Play a Sound

The phone rings for 5 minutes. This can be helpful if you have misplaced your phone in your home or a secure place.

  • Secure Device

When you select ‘secure device’, your phone is locked with your pin or you can create one if you don’t have one already. Google also gives you the option of a message that can be displayed on the lock screen in case someone wants to return your phone.

  • Erase Device

This option deletes all the data from your phone and Find My Device is turned off. That means that you won’t be able to track your phone if you select ‘erase device’. It is recommended to leave this option for last.

2. Find your Missing iPhone using Find My 

Just like Google, Apple has a service for tracking lost devices known as Find My. To find your missing iPhone you will need to enable the Find My iPhone, Find My Network and Send Last Location on your iPhone. There are two ways to locate your missing iPhone:

Use ‘Find My’ App to find your iPhone:

To use the Find My application to locate you must have access to another iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The new device should have the application installed. Here’s how you locate your phone using the Find My app:

  • Open the Find My app
  • Click on the Devices tab
  • Select the iPhone you want to find
  • Check the map to see the last known location of your iPhone
  • Select Play Sound to call your phone or Directions to get directions to the place where your phone was located

If you cannot locate your device, turn on notifications to get notified when your phone is located by any other device in your Find My Network. You can also choose to mark your iPhone as lost if you can’t find it. Activating Mark as Lost locks your device and suspends all your cards in the Apple Wallet so that no one else has access to them.

3. Use a Web Browser to Find your iPhone

You can also find your missing iPhone by using a web browser to login into iCloud.com. Once you go to this website, sign in with your Apple ID and password. When logged in, select Find iPhone the All devices. From the list select the device you want to find. You can then choose to Play Sound or Lost mode.

Play sound will help to locate your phone if it is nearby. The lost mode locks your phone. It also allows you to enter your phone number and a message to be displayed on your screen in case someone finds your phone.

There is also an option to Erase iPhone. If you select Erase iPhone all the data is permanently deleted from your device. As a result, you won’t be able to keep tracking your phone in the Find My Network. However, if your phone is running on iOS 15 or later versions you can still find it in Find My Network.

4. Samsung Galaxy’s Built-in Tracking Service

In addition to android’s Find My Phone feature, Samsung smartphones have a tracking feature known as Find My Mobile. With this service, you can locate, lock and erase a Samsung phone. You can access this service at findmymobile.samsung.com.

To be able to track your phone using Find My Mobile, you have to activate this feature in the settings and other optional settings such as Remote Unlock and Send Last Location. 

To track your missing phone login into Find My Mobile using your Samsung account on any browser. From there you can select the device you want to find. If the device’s location is turned on and it is connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi, then you can get the location of the lost phone on a map. You can also lock your phone and even remotely back up your phone in case you don’t recover it.

5. Tracking Your Phone using its Serial Number

Every phone has a unique number known as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), or Electronic Serial Number (ESN) depending on the model. If you know the serial number of your lost phone you can track it from third-party companies and tracking agencies.

It is also important to know this number so that you can report it to the police in case you don’t find your phone. That way if it falls into wrong hands and ends up in some criminal activity you will not get into trouble.

6. Contact your Carrier

You can contact your carrier or service provider and ask them if they can locate your phone and help you track it down. If they cannot track it for you and you are sure you cannot find it, you can ask them to suspend your phone service to prevent someone else from using it.

I hope that you don’t lose your phone and undergo the turmoil of tracking. However, if it happens, hopefully, these tips will help you to get it back.

At NS804, we help you design excellent mobile applications – whether it’s a mobile phone tracking app or a business app, we can always help you bridge any gap.

Contact NS804 to access mobile app development solutions.

Agile And Waterfall Methodology: 5 Things To Know

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As a business leader, you’ve probably deliberated over the differences between the Agile and Waterfall methodology. And if you’re an app developer, you’ve likely adopted one of these two methodologies to complete your projects. 

But you’ve probably heard project managers and industry insiders throw the terms ‘Agile’ and ‘Waterfall’ quite liberally. Thus, often giving the impression that both are similar, even though this isn’t necessarily true. 

Sure, both are popular methodologies that involve the planning, realization, and keeping track of projects as they advance. However, there are several glaring differences between the two that we need to understand clearly.

So, what are the differences between the Agile and Waterfall methodology? There are several, but we’ll focus on one key difference right now. 

Agile relies on continuous iteration whereby the development team works simultaneously on a project, making it a flexible model. However, Waterfall requires the team to complete each stage of the project linearly, and thus, it’s way more rigid. 

But let’s be clear about one thing, neither methodology is better than the other. Project managers must pick the one that best suits their needs. And to better understand the differences between the two and which to pick, we’ve compiled this handy list below to help you make the right decision! 

1. Agile Methodology In A Nutshell

Due to the more strict nature of Waterfall, it soon became necessary for an alternative. And thus, Agile made its way into the world of project management to address a common problem. Since it often takes many years to complete most common software projects, technology undergoes tremendous change. Henceforth, development teams cannot realistically complete their projects while keeping up with customer demand with the Waterfall methodology.

But with the flexibility of Agile, it’s easy to make changes, even late during the timeline of a project. Moreover, company stakeholders, management, and customers may request changes or new features. It’s even possible to implement these additional changes or features without hindering the project significantly. 

And that’s because Agile allows the team to complete several phases concurrently and frequently. Another benefit of Agile is that the team determines the project’s direction instead of the project manager. Ultimately, this energizes the team and helps increase productivity, but it also calls for more team independence.

2. Understanding The Waterfall Methodology

Projects with a known outcome benefit immensely from the Waterfall methodology due to its linear approach. Before a team can move forward, it must first meet the set requirements and complete the deliverables of the current stage of the project.

However, the project lead must have a well-defined vision for the app. More importantly, no major alterations may occur during the development process, as this will likely derail the project. Unlike with Agile, it’s difficult and costly to course correct with the Waterfall methodology.

And before a project commences, the project lead must have a clear picture of the budget and timeline. Any deviation from this during the development process will put the project at risk. However, this does not necessarily make Waterfall projects riskier than Agile projects.

3. Agile And Waterfall Methodology Impact Client Involvement

Depending on the scope of your project, you may decide to involve your clients. If that’s the case, then Agile is a great choice. And according to the Principles behind the Agile Manifesto, customer collaboration plays a vital role. Furthermore, it encourages collaboration between developers and business people and face-to-face discussion on a frequent basis.

With Waterfall, if you’re the project lead, you’ll hold weekly or monthly meetings with your development team. And you may share progress reports with company stakeholders, but you won’t collaborate with clients. Furthermore, you’ll only share information on a need-to-know basis with the right people in your team.

4. Rigid Versus Sprint Planning

With the Waterfall methodology, the planning phase takes far longer than with Agile. And that’s because the project lead and company stakeholders must evaluate the feasibility of the project. In most cases, the budget will be higher, as a Waterfall project must be completed in its entirety before it’s shipped.

Furthermore, there’s very little wiggle room, if any, for changes at a later stage. Any decisions taken during the planning phase must be adhered to during the entirety of the project. And to ensure that the development team remains committed to the project, the planning phase also includes the monitoring procedure.

Agile is an entirely different beast, which doesn’t prioritize planning. Instead, projects are broken down into sprints, and decisions that will impact the project occur before each sprint. These sessions are also known as sprint planning. And while Agile offers plenty of flexibility, major project changes may not occur during an active sprint.

Keep in mind that Agile requires constant engagement by the project manager and team members. Therefore, stand-up meetings have become customary for teams to stay informed. All attendees must meet regularly for small durations and must stand while the project lead updates the team in front of a whiteboard. 

Stand-up meetings may occur every day or several times per week. In most cases, stand-up meetings work remarkably well. But difficult to implement with large teams spread across multiple locations. Also, holding too many stand-up meetings may disrupt the workflow of the team. 

5. The Waterfall Methodology Is Losing Popularity

As you’re probably aware by now, Agile seems to have advantages that make it very attractive to development teams. And given the shift to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) from packaged software, Agile makes perfect sense. But it doesn’t end there, as many mobile app development teams rely heavily on a continuous iteration process.

Most savvy mobile app developers start with a prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP). And if these gain traction with users, then they’ll scale up to a full-fledged product. But given the constant introduction of new mobile devices and app store requirements, most mobile apps are not truly ever done.

And let’s not forget that users have become accustomed to receiving features that will keep them engaged after each app update. Therefore, the Waterfall methodology isn’t suitable for most mobile app development purposes. It’s better to adopt the Agile methodology and introduce new features and updates during every active sprint.

But don’t write off Waterfall entirely, as it may prove useful if you’re developing a premium mobile game. Most paid mobile games have high-quality visuals, gameplay, and features that make them closely resemble console games. And thus, it’s unlikely that you’ll introduce new content and features later unless these come in the form of downloadable content (DLC) or in-app purchases (IAP). 

Even so, most premium games have a limited lifecycle, so don’t necessarily require continuous iteration. Their high budgets, long development cycles, and the necessity for specialist team member roles make the Waterfall methodology the right choice here. 

In Conclusion

Understanding the key differences between the Agile and Waterfall methodology places you in an advantageous position. It allows you to opt for the right methodology that best suits your project. However, company stakeholders will also affect your choice.

For example, if these stakeholders will support the project long-term and closely involve themselves, Agile is the way to go. But if these stakeholders prefer a more hands-off approach, consider Waterfall instead. Contact NS804 to learn how we’ll help you complete your upcoming project on time using the most suitable technologies and methodologies.

Mobile Apps & Customer Surveys: Tips for Creating Yours

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The success of a mobile app is heavily dependent on the ability of the owners to respond quickly and effectively to users’ feedback. Hundreds of hours of the development phase will not mean much if a bug is not fixed quickly enough. Setting up mobile surveys within your mobile app makes is user-centric. It allows for the continuous collection of information on user experience which yields several key benefits.

Guiding App Development

Mobile app survey tools have become quite sophisticated to allow for targeted survey administration. Today, you can set up survey questions to appear only on particular sections of the app or to pop-up only to particular users. The feedback received helps to understand whether features are working as intended. This approach helps the developer to decide whether to build on those features or abandon them altogether.

Product Roadmap

Mobile app surveys are a great way to ask users what they would like to see next on the app. Knowing the most requested features takes the guesswork out of a product’s roadmap and improves the ROI of the development spend. It also keeps your users emotionally invested in the future of the app as they seek to get more utility from it.

Handling Negative Reviews

Getting negative feedback within the app is far much better than bad reviews on app stores or other external platforms. Issuing surveys allows users to express what they feel is not working. It allows the development team to fix these issues before users decide to uninstall the app.

Tips/Best practices

When designing and deploying mobile app surveys, it’s important to ensure that the survey does not ruin the user experience itself. It’s important that you do not administer surveys too often that they annoy users. Every few weeks might be considered as frequent enough. The surveys should also not pop up when customers are in the middle of something important. For most apps, the norm would be to survey users after they log in or just before they exit the app.

Another best practice is to ensure the app is completed within the app to avoid redirecting them to another website or application altogether. Asking people to visit another page to complete a survey is also likely to lead to a very low number of respondents as people are not willing to exert a lot of effort.

Finally, when thinking about questions to include in a survey, it’s good to use a mix of both closed and open-ended questions. The survey, however, ought to be short enough so that it does not feel like an inconvenience to users.

Types Of Questions

It is possible to classify your mobile app survey questions into several broad categories to ensure that you do not ignore certain themes. The first category would be questions on whether the app is meeting users’ demands. The next category is open-ended questions on problems users face while using the app. The other category would be on the product roadmap and improvements users would like to see.

You can come up with more categories based on the niche of your app.

If your business is seeking an app development partner, NS804 is your best bet. We are a world-class mobile app development company with hundreds of apps shipped to both small and large businesses. Schedule a call with us here. 

 

IOS Development Richmond, VA

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IOS development is a critical step of any mobile app development process. That’s because there were more than 1.2 billion iPhone users globally at the start of 2022. And this number is expected to grow soon. The APP Store gives users from every part of the world the opportunity to discover and download apps that meet the highest levels of security, quality, and performance.

This is exactly why developing an IOS mobile app with quality in mind is critical. App Store prioritizes and gives preferences to seamless, smooth, and quality apps that answer the most pressing of customers’ questions. So, if you’re a mobile developer or running an enterprise that ultimately needs one, you’re in the right place.

This article will explore some benefits of IOS mobile app development and give you tips on how to approach mobile app development – of course from an expert. In addition, if you need some mobile app development services in Richmond, worry no more because we already have you covered.

Why IOS Mobile App Development Richmond?

1. Elegant user interface

The first impression of an app is critical in its adoption and overall usability. That’s why it’s the responsibility of every mobile app development company to provide a superior user interface that’s appealing and satisfying.

A smooth user interface works proportionally for the customer. The smoother and more appealing, the stronger the relationship between the business and its target customers. Therefore, if you’re looking for IOS mobile development, in Richmond, ensure that the development project delivers an elegant user interface.

2. Tech-savviness

The iPhone has clearly distinguished itself as a tech-savvy device for like-minded users. That means that the typical iPhone user is a tech-savvy consumer who’s attracted to and impressed by innovative products.

So, if you’re developing an IOS app, think of developing a product with robust features. iPhone lovers are highly receptive to innovative and equally evolving products and apps. Your goal in developing a mobile application is to produce a product that will cause turbulence in the market and keep your head afloat from the competition.

3. Strong security

One of the primary advantages of IOS development is the high-end security protection provided by IOS. There’s no denying that every app developer must consider the security safeguards that protect data against theft, duplication, and encryption.

The primary purpose is to protect customers against phishing and hacking attempts, thus preserving their data, privacy, and security. So, it’s the responsibility of every app developer – customers, developers, and companies – to prioritize security in the IOS mobile app development.

4. Capital returns

Did you know that IOS app users are more likely to pay for an app than Android app users? So, developing an IOS app gives you better monetization opportunities than Android. However, it’s always advisable to consider a cross-functional app that can function in Android and IOS.

In addition, every app in the App Store must meet stringent criteria of security, usability, and experience. This means that every app in the App Store is worthwhile and helpful. Investing in an IOS development project will not only give you returns on investment, but will help you retain a large chunk of your clients.

5. Superior user experience

50% of customers uninstall their apps a week after installing them because of usability issues. Fortunately, this is not the case with IOS mobile app development. Apple has built a superior product for its customers because of fantastic software, superb customer service, and faultless hardware.

In addition, the contentment that Apple users derive by using such a superior product cannot be downplayed when considering whether to invest in Android or IOS development. Investing in IOS development fits into Apple’s overall culture of quality, functionality, and superiority.

Mobile App Development Services, Richmond

Richmond is a thriving capital that boasts hundreds of small, medium-sized, and large businesses. As an independent city with slightly over three hundred thousand people, Richmond Virginia is the fourth most populous city, and thus a business hub in the region.

Running a business in Richmond demands thrust, creativity, and innovation. This is because Richmond is home to one of the world’s leading brands – Walmart, Amazon, Infosys, Deloitte, and many more.

Luckily, mobile app development services will ensure that your business gets both a digital and physical presence. Mobile app development has been lauded as one of the most creative elements of modern-age businesses.

This means that leveraging mobile app development services will enable you to succeed in your digital marketing efforts by capturing an upstream of online customers.

Some of the benefits of IOS mobile app development in Richmond include:

  • Target customers. IOS mobile app development enables you to zero down on high-value customers. That’s because Apple users are tech-savvy and highly receptive to innovation and evolving technologies.
  • Returns on investment. It has already been established that iPhone users pay more for apps than Android users. That automatically means that your IOS app stands in a better monetary position than a typical Android app.
  • Quality. IOS mobile app development process is complicated and requires the latest software version. However, the results of IOS mobile app development are superior and superb, giving you better functionality and app control than a typical Android app.
  • User experience. Did you know that on average IOS apps are better and more impressive than Android apps? Investing in IOS development gives your app an edge, especially in a highly competitive and ever-changing landscape.
  • Faster development process. Unlike Android app development, IOS app development is faster, easier, and less expensive. However, all credit goes to Apple’s excellent programming languages that make app development a rewarding experience.

It’s critical to note that IOS development remains the best mobile app development for new and upcoming owners who want to remain ahead of the pack.

NS804 – Trusted IOS Development, Richmond

NS804 is a seasoned developer of superior mobile app solutions for Android and IOS. However, our years of designing and experimenting with IOS apps enable us to prefer IOS apps to Android apps because of speed, functionality, reliability, and security of IOS.

So, if you’re starting or simply looking to reinvent an existing mobile app, you’re in the right place. NS804 works with talented software developers and project managers who can design your app from concept to completion.

In addition, we provide a minimum viable product allowing our customers to experiment with a prototype of the app before going full-flung. Part of our provision is a mobile app calculator that lets you determine how much you will pay for a specific type of app.

So, whether you’re starting or improving on an existing project, NS804 will support all your IOS development efforts with precision and expertise.

Contact NS804 for superior IOS mobile app development solutions.

Which Comes First When Developing A Mobile App — iOS Or Android?

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Should you choose iOS or Android for your next app project? Well, that largely depends on your goals. And that’s because these goals will help you determine which platform you should develop for first.

But you may have heard that it’s cheaper and faster to develop for iOS. And that’s true, but this is seldom a good enough reason to opt for iOS over Android. It’s better to consider the target audience and what platform they predominantly use. 

Ultimately, always consider where your app will likely succeed first. Below, we reveal a few handy tips to help you choose iOS or Android — but to do so wisely! 

1. When Developing A Premium App

It’s no secret that iOS users spend more on apps than their Android counterparts. Moreover, they prefer premium apps and are willing to purchase apps instead of watching ads like Android users. And that difference is significant, as users spent $85.1 Billion in the App Store versus $47.9 Billion in the Google Play Store in 2021.

So, if you’re planning on going premium with your next app, then iOS is the clear winner. The same applies if you’ll be monetizing via in-app purchases and subscriptions, iOS still leads the way here. But be careful with utility applications, as these tend to do better on Android and don’t engage iOS users as much.

2. Consider Your Target Audience

One of the most crucial factors that will determine whether you’ll choose iOS or Android for your upcoming project is your target audience. And then, you’ll need to determine their demographics, locations, and preferred platform.

Outside North America and most Western territories, Android reigns supreme, especially in the developing world. Android has a 72% market share, and iOS has 26% of the mobile audience. So, if you’re aiming for maximum downloads, especially with a freemium app, Android’s your best bet!

Since most Android users reside in low and middle-income countries, you’ll be reaching a diverse audience. And that means you’ll need to spend some time and money on localization.

3. Starting With iOS Or Android For Mobile Game Development

Between Apple and Google, the latter has historically been the more game-friendly company. But that’s slowly changing, especially after the introduction of the Apple Arcade subscription service. However, Google remains competitive with Google Play Pass and Instant Play games.

And then, there’s the wide variety of platforms and storefronts that Android reaches. Android apps and games run on Chromebooks, and Google Play Games (still in beta in some regions) now run on PC. Furthermore, the Amazon App Store, Huawei AppGallery, Samsung Galaxy Store, and several other stores host Android games. 

Thus, Android offers developers many more opportunities to reach gamers than Apple. And specific genres, such as arcade, puzzle, and racing games, tend to earn more as freemium titles, which suits Android perfectly.

However, if you want to be featured in the App Store, you may want to hold off on the Android version momentarily. The cool thing about the App Store is that it’s curated by humans who take an interest in titles that stand out. And if you provide them with a unique game that’s timed-exclusive, it’s possible to be featured, leading to many downloads and sales.

The Bottom Line

Both iOS and Android are fantastic platforms that offer developers plenty of solid opportunities. But you need to develop apps first for the platform that lines up with your goals closely. Avoid fanboyism and the hype surrounding a particular platform, and focus on the platform that will deliver the results you want instead. Contact NS804 to learn how we’ll help you deliver phenomenal iOS or Android apps to your users!