Apple has always been in the news for its innovative gadgets and path breaking technologies. Amongst a number of rumors surrounding the release of the second generation Apple watch 2, we are already excited about the launch. While the need to clear off any false notions with regards the watch has become quintessential, we have tried to be thorough about its release date, design, and functionalities.

Coming up – A fascinating new version

 Apple watch 2 is soon to be unveiled personally by Tim Cook himself. This watch has been a hot topic of discussion among tech lovers much before it is due to enter the market. We are definitely expecting some exciting turnabouts but most of the rumors on the internet are just expectations. The watch is definitely promises to have integrated advanced technologies processors which are much better than Apple watch 1.

The rumors surrounding the latest iteration of Apple watch

There are many rumors, but the truth can only be settled after the exact release of the watch. We have sources citing that the Apple watch 2 will have a strong battery which will last for weeks. Rumors surrounding the watch release also suggest that the watch can be expected sometime in March 2016. However, some other sources even suggest that the release date can be postponed till the spring or the end of 2016 and the event in March will focus just around the iPhone 6c. However, there is no definite confirmation on the release date till now.

The interesting features and specifications hoped for in the new watch

By June 2015, an estimated 7 million Apple Watches were sold across the globe. Surveys suggest that the existing Apple users already wish the second iteration to reach in tandem with advanced features of other company’s Smart watches like pebble, having high battery life. We hope this to be fulfilled by the Apple Watch 2.

Apart from that, newer stainless steel Milanese loop straps, face time camera for video calling, and wireless chipset which would allow less dependence on iPhone, are among the many hopes resting on the new watch. Some rumors even suggest a completely new avatar of the Apple Watch 2. Also, newer color palettes could be on this list.

Things that have been confirmed till now are waterproofing, adding GPS system and some other utility features. While native health apps have never been enough, the Apple Watch 2 will have added inbuilt features/ apps which can act as an overall fitness meter, even under water.

To meet the higher expectations, Apple Inc. seems to be working in the direction of making a durable watch with high battery life.  Only time will say how closely the real features will match the rumors. But we can surely expect the best of the technologies to come together!

If you too have been waiting for the release of the Apple Watch 2, this would be the space to watch out for. We will try to dig up anything that comes along the way!

The world is becoming more and more addicted to Smartphones. The variety of unique applications racking up on our devices proves how quickly we are getting hooked onto the technological revolution. User engagement levels are also up and surging like never before, be it about fitness or shopping from the convenience of your home. 5 major developments dominating the scene currently include:

1.     Internet of things leading to creation of apps with an edge

The network connections to a multitude of objects like wearable technology have surged in the modern times. Powered by IoT, wearable technology will grow from a $20 billion market in 2015 to a $70 billion industry by 2025. This has made it necessary for the mobile apps to keep pace with this towering trend. The outstretching imaginations are leading to more and more innovative apps which are beneficial for both commercial and industrial usage.  The smart sensors in the apps will alert and perform a number of useful functions.

2.     Beacon technology- a big leap from the native technology

All iOS users can now get alerts from even the dormant retail store apps as these are woken up by the beacon technology. Whenever customers are physically inside a store, the beacon allows identifying the exact location. If the customer is standing in the jeans section, the message is immediately received by the store app which alerts the customers regarding the discounts on the needed product. This technology is the new profit racking instrument for retailer and the trend will continue into the future.

3.     Craze for building mobile videos in Enterprise Apps

More and more enterprises have sprung up to take advantage of the growing trend in app usage on smaller screen. Hence these apps are leading to excessive profit making for the enterprises. Creative mobile videos have become an important tool for brands and enterprises to reach out. These video ads are no more just meant for the websites; but to directly target customer’s attention clearly on the mobile screens.  The enterprise video market will in fact grow to a $36.84 million industry by 2020. The companies are increasingly seen using multimedia site apps to project their videos ads so as to successfully propagate its image.

4.     The cloud app integration

Millions of apps that have mushroomed on various platforms are becoming very more user friendly with the integration of cloud.  Larger mobile apps are now able to fit in as a small subset of the bigger space, bandwidth and memory availability in the cloud network.

5.     Secured apps are a cut above the rest

The security of the apps has become a serious agenda for all kinds of applications, old and new. Serious competition among brands and businesses has led the need to address any security concerns in the apps at the earliest. While there are about 4 million apps in the major app stores, 75% of them would fall short of passing the basic security tests.  This is directly linked to the credibility of a business and isn’t a thing that can be taken lightly. Developers are thus continuously preparing and updating themselves to meet the expectations.

Mobiles and more specifically smart devices hold our future. As we roll into 2016, smartphones will become the change-bearers.

Ruby on Rails is among the most important and used programming languages and framework used in millions of websites already. More and more websites are shifting towards this language use in the modern times. Being learned and skilled in this language is an added advantage for a web designer to earn gracious salary.  The model view controller pattern applied in this language is hard to master. Hence professionals who have excelled in this difficult but productive web application framework, definitely have their career rolling at a breakneck speed!

Lucrative skill

The graph depiction of number of ruby developers since 2010 clearly suggests an increasing trend proving that this web development language is here to stay. The mind boggling salaries ranging from $70000- $100000 around the world and with quicker and higher raises is definitely driving more towards learning this ‘cash rich’ skill. Professionals skilled at Ruby are a rare bunch and hence attract high demand and less supply. This is also the reason why they are the ones who rule the web development market.

Showcase a Resume with a bright career scope

Like C or Java, Ruby is a general purpose language, although best known for its web programming capabilities. RoR offers several advantages including rapid development, less of coding and a wide resource of 3^rd party libraries. Companies ranging from startups to established multinationals use Ruby to their end. According to the latest (2016) data from indeed.com, Ruby is positioned among the top 10 programming languages, alongside SQL, Java, C#, C++, Python, PHP and iOS. This ensures that a Ruby certification can help you land up in a range of companies and promise a bright career.

Your Career can take off with Ruby on Rails skills

Making a good, secured website is a preliminary SEO requirement. Hence, eradicating any security flaws is the prerogative of the web developers of RoR.  A bachelor in computer science with the technical skills in various web tools including RoR can definitely bring the job seeker in the limelight.

With RoR enjoying a long run (with no indication of slowing down anytime soon), it makes total sense for a newbie in technology domain to master this language and enhance his/ her skillset. Some of the more essential pointers that a new programmer can focus on include the ways to implement upgrades, release codes and also make database changes.

The web applications development can become less intimidating for the people who know Ruby on Rails. Hence, the people who are at any stage of their career can upgrade their skills and add this wonderful tech skill into their CV to get their careers zooming up. The philosophies of this language like ‘don’t repeat yourself’, ‘convention over configuration’ makes it a practical programming language which requires less coding and hence less repetitions unlike other programming software. This makes Ruby a preferable platform for businesses and consequently a winning addition to your CV!

Finding the best hotels in a new place takes just an app! Hotel booking sites like Hotels.com, Expedia, and Venere have recently gained a lot of popularity with 76% leisure travelers accessing them for the better deals and lower prices. The other side of the coin also reveals that most travelers today are less likely to go for branded hotels. Statistics suggest that 13% travelers are looking for mobile convenience when booking accommodation and branded sites are failing short of the required urgency.

Intermediary hotel booking apps have the mobile muscle to come in between the hotels and their guests.  Hotel apps ensure “hospitality on the move” and major brands across the globe are focusing on new mobile strategies to improve their guest’s experience. The fully customizable apps ensure that all types of transactions and searches are made simple, before, during and post the stay. Mobile apps for hotels are also changing the way guests interact with the service staff and vice versa.

Looking beyond the booking process

Several hotels are coming up with apps that facilitate a seamless booking process. Some even step things up a notch to take advantage of in-app messaging and push notifications that would remind guests about valuable information about their lodging and booking. A good example of such an platform is the Ritz-Carlton app that gives guests access to early check-ins, access room services, access special offers, and use their reservation code to stay in contact with their guests at all times.

Technology raising the bar

The increasing demand of self service hotel apps have been met by technology that has helped automate requests both on and off the property. Businesses that have deployed these mobile apps invariably improve their guest satisfaction score, regardless of being independent properties or as a part of a hospitality chain. The digital experience is possible long before the arrival and this provides enough opportunity for the hotel to reinforce their service experience.

Catering to instant gratification

Mobile application across the hotel industry ensures on-demand services with just some taps on a smart screen. One of the best examples of such a service is i-Guest, deployed by several boutique hotels. Developed by FCS Computer System, this multilingual application allows guests to customize every part of their hotel experience, right from accessing property amenities to ordering dinner. Apps like this offer a range of convenience including mobile check in/out, room service requests, housekeeping requests, laundry orders, scheduling spa appointments, valet parking requests and restaurant reservation, without the need to go to the front desk. Sometimes this bundle of features also includes mobile concierge, local information, current news, travel guides and other locational services.

Increased staff efficiency

Self service apps don’t just connect the hotel and guests but also makes it easy to organize staff participation. With every employee’s login time registered and tracked, it’s more convenient for hotels to schedule orders coming from the guests.

All of the above only prove that if you are associated with the hotel industry, it’s time to take apps more seriously! The power and popularity of apps today is beyond boundaries and there are many opportunities to be explored.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is here to change our world for the ‘awesome’! IoT has been the best definition when we talk about this “connected world” of ours. With millions of devices connecting people and their experiences to the internet, it has made it easier to track, analyze and bring out new inventions like never before. However, the sad part if 87% of the “internet educated” mass (us) don’t quite understand what IoT stands for.

The ‘movement’, as we would like to call it, deserves attention and here are the things you need to start off with:

1. By the year 2008, there was more number of devices connected to the internet than the total population of the world! It is also estimated that by 2020, the number of devices connected to the internet will cross 50 billion and IoT will be the reason for $19 trillion in cost savings and profits.
2. By 2020, we will have more than 6.1 billion smart phone users – almost all with IoT potential in some form or the other
3. The adoption of Internet of Things has been rather slow with only 50% of Americans knowing that smart refrigerators and smart thermostats are already in use.
4. The IPv6 standard for Internet addresses ensured that there are as many numbers of internet addresses as there are atoms in our earth! This would mean that companies can develop small devices capable of online connections, without running out of IP Addresses.
5. One of the major parts of IoT is Connected Homes. By the year 2019, we will have 1.9 billion devices connecting homes and this will result in a $490 billion growth in revenues.
6. As of today, only 7% of US consumers own a wearable device but in the period of the next one year, this value would have crossed 28%.
7. By 2020, 20% more US consumers would own a smart refrigerator or smart watch.
8. Again, by 2020, 14% of global consumers would own some kind of internet-connected clothing.
9. Internet of Things is more than devices and gadgets. A Dutch company has been using sensors on animals to tell farmers when they are pregnant or sick. Each animal (cow) fitted with this sensor sends around 200 MB of data annually.
10. 60% of Americans are already sharing car data with their manufacturer in lieu of free maintenance sessions. This has also opened up a huge window of opportunity for advertisers.
11. By 2020, Gartner Research suggests that 20% of the vehicles on our roads would be giving off information to a central database via some kind of wireless connection. Sierra Wireless is already in function for manufacturers like Toyota, Volvo, Tesla, BMW and Ford.
12. Another interesting product of Internet of Things is Autonomous Vehicles. Recently, an unmanned Audi A7 drove for more than 550 miles between San Francisco and Las Vegas. The brain for the drive was NVIDIA processors!
13. 2008 was the year when Proteus Digital Health was approved a patent that concerned swallowable pills having sensors embedded inside it. The sensor would now be transmitting data whenever the user takes his/her medication. This way, family members were informed about the intake schedule.
14. China dominated in IoT with more than 27% of machine-to-machine connections.
15. Connected kitchens will help save as much as 15% of the current costs in food and beverage industry.

Phew! That was incredible! Stay tuned for more exciting trends around this technology in the coming days.

Sources:

1. http://www.wired.com/insights/2014/11/the-internet-of-things-bigger/
2. http://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2015/10/27/17-mind-blowing-internet-of-things-facts-everyone-should-read/#25fe82831a7a

The apple watches are fantastic in terms of enormous collection of apps which can be availed from its app store. Now watching small videos, playing games, knowing the current weather condition, getting the latest news is possible downloading the various Apple Watch Applications.  The Apple Smart watches are creating a competitive scenario for its competitors by these best applications fetching popularity by the day. The 10 most exclusive applications which are very efficient and fetching higher downloads include

1.     Find Near Me

The best convenience auguring facet of the watch is it is always on your wrist when travelling. Hence, in case one need to find the nearest restaurant, ATM, Bank, using the Find Near Me App Watch App enables to quickly find the address, directions as also get reviews.

2.     Google Maps

While driving or travelling, the Google Maps have proved to be number one Geographical positional systems. Hence, the text based Google Maps on the Apple Smart watch are a welcome provision when one is not carrying the phone or the phone is out of charge. This app also contains links to the recent routes and also saved directions to your home or work which can be enabled even in the offline mode.

3.     Runtastic 

The health and fitness apps on the Apple Smart watches are undoubtedly excellent. The  sensors in the Runtastic app measures the heart rate while performing sports activities like running.  Also, with the Apple phone alongside can facilitate GPS tracking too.

4.    Pcalc

The apple calculator with much better user interface gives faster calculation ease as it is very much responsive.

5.     TuneIn Radio Pro

From around 100,000 radio stations from across the world accessible from a single app. this app is definitely loved and can be heard anywhere even while standing in queues at the bank. The sound in the Apple Smart watch is not too loud so as to disturb the people around.

6.     Vine

Viewing of small amusing videos with audio on the wrist watch is a fun activity possible only on the App Watch App Vine.  The movies are too long for viewing on the wrist watches.

7.     Fantastical 2

Setting reminders and getting reminded for the special events, appointments, lunches, exercise routine is possible over the Fantastical 2. There is no need to scourge for the phone to know your busy schedule when you have this app.

8      BBC news

Getting news updates of your favorite categories and also the top headlines can keep you organized with the BBC news app. Though not the whole story, a gist of the story on the watch can surely arouse the interest to read the whole story on your iPhone later.

9.     Pro Camera

The Procamera is an excellent camera with remote control features. The timer settings allow delaying the photo clicking and also one can input the number of photos to be shot in advance. It allows viewing the images from the gallery.

10.     Slack

The short and to the point messages or emojis as also voice messages can be sent across to the other users of this app.

PHP is being used by 81.7% of internet, in websites that have known server side programming. Again, 98.7% of these PHP websites use the 5^th version of the language. This shows that PHP 5.0 is arguable the top coding language today and the best examples lie in the form of Facebook.com, Twitter.com, Pinterest.com, WordPress.com, Wikipedia.com, Baidu.com and more.

For someone looking into a career in PHP, the future seems bright. However, it is also important to understand you are able to maintain the high code quality, PHP’s naming conventions, visual styles, and other technical settings allows developers to come up with homogeneous codes that both easy to read and maintain. The experience and personality of the coder also comes into play when differentiating a code that is “okay” and a code that is “awesome”.

Naming

Naming conventions have always been undervalued by software developers. While no one denies that having a nice name makes things easy, many opt for cryptic abbreviations, juts to save some typing. It is generally advisable to have English names for class names, comments, method names, database tables field names and variable names. It is common consensus that English is always easier to remember than special characters.

Vendor namespaces

Vendor namespaces are the base for namespaces and package keys. This provides two advantages. Firstly, there isn’t an extra requirement for a central package key registry and secondly, it allows the coder to easily integrate third party packages like Zend framework components, Symfony2 components or for that matter, any PHP 5.3+ based library.

Turn on Error Reporting

Error Reporting can be a highly useful function and enabled all throughout the development phase. Among the commonly used feature here would be E_ALL, spotting all critical errors with warnings. It is mandatory that we turn on this feature before putting our code to production.

Using the DRY Approach

DRY or ‘Do not Repeat Yourself’ ensures that there is no redundant code in our scripts. Codes that violate DRY are referred to as WET solutions and are common to programmers who enjoy unnecessary typing!

WET code:

$mysql  = mysql_connect ( ‘localhost’,  ‘mysqladmin_uid’, ‘mysqladmin_pwd’ );

mysql_select_db( ‘DB_NAME’ ) or die( “Sorry !! No database selected!”);

DRY version:

$db_host = ' localhost ';

$db_user = ' mysqladmin_uid ';

$db_password = ' mysqladmin_pwd ';

$db_database = ' DB_NAME ';

$mysql = mysql_connect($db_host, $db_user, $db_password);

mysql_select_db($db_database);

Indentation / use of white space

Not just in PHP, but whatever language you may be working upon, it is necessary that the coding is properly indented and there is sufficient amount of white space wherever necessary. This helps in maintenance and enhancing the readability.

Don’t trust the user, ever!

If the application you are working on requires user inputs, make sure that it is designed to handle all kinds of possible inputs. Initializing your variables with some initial value can also be a tool against hackers, though it might not seem relevant to the business flow.

Lastly, use Cache whenever required and never resort to copying extra variables. These should keep your script sane and your application efficient.

For someone conversant and interested in new technologies, it’s a whirlwind of terms. UX, IxD, CX, UCD, guerrilla research, emotional design, strategic UX, etc all seem to be fancy names for the name things. Keywords in resumes are getting more ‘cool’ and at the same time more complicated. This is the same when one talks about lean UX and agile UX. Many think that both these terms refer to the same end – the connection between design and product development. Both aims towards making designing faster, both implicate a broader user experience and both bring in tools that facilitate the processes. So, why are there two different terms for the same thing? Let’s check out the differences.

What is Agile UX?

The agile revolution is rooted in software creation. In the days of the past, design wasn’t as valued an asset as it is today. Consequently, less attention was paid to its form and less investment was made in designers. Software development was all about being able to deliver results – the look of the interfaces didn’t matter.

However, design gradually became important for a more functional product. It facilitated a better user experience, easier handling of interface, intuitive user interaction and consequently, a faster understanding of the product. Agile design concept followed a simple set of principles:

• Interactions and individuals against tools and processes
• Working software against comprehensive documentation
• Change response against following plans
• Customer collaboration against contract negotiations

These are still the golden guidelines that are being used to develop agile digital products. To be a fit for the new concept, UX (user experience) need to change focus and working techniques. Agile UX today, essentially unifies designers and developers to support a more intuitive and easy product development.

What is Lean UX?

The main difference between Agile UX and Lean UX proceeds from the ‘startup culture’. Startups, as businesses in competition, are expected to deliver products as fast as they can and develop better sales strategies for the business to survive. Thus, it is essential that a vast amount of knowledge in the form of data and information is gathered to serve the iterations of a product. The goal of Lean UX is to present the best way to develop a minimum viable product and push it towards the customers as fast as possible. Generally, the process involves bringing out the core product first, checking its market demand/acceptance and then bringing out newer versions/updates to realize a better adoption. The lean development process involves several learning loops, involving build – measure – learn.

It’s a lean UX if a product is being constantly updated by gathering customer/user feedback. Thus Lean UX requires better understanding of customer behavior, giving it the alternative name of “Executed UX”.

Which is better?

Agile UX bring out a more polished product from its onset but Lean UX would support several versions of product that is constantly being polished/refined. The method you choose would thus depend on the type of product you are working at.