Author: Jay

Do what you do best in – that’s what I’ve always believed in and that’s what I preach. Over the past 25+ years (yup that’s my expertise ‘n’ experience in the Information Technology domain), I’ve been consulting to small, medium and large companies ‘About Web Technologies, Mobile Future as well as on the good-and-bad of tech. Blogger, International Business Advisor, Web Technology Expert, Sales Guru, Startup Mentor, Insurance Sales Portal Expert & a Tennis Player. And top of all – a complete family man!

Apple’s iBeacon scores over NFC

Posted on by Jay

iBeacon is a new technology developed by Apple for its operating system iOS7. This technology allows mobile apps to detect when an iPhone is near a small wireless sensor called a beacon. The Beacon can transmit Push Notifications to an iPhone and vice versa using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).They can also be used by the Android operating system.

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Advantages of iBeacon:

  • Compatibility: Most of the mobile phones are compatible with Bluetooth.
  • Range: Range of the iBeacon is upto 50 meters.
  • Low power consumption: It consumes less minuscule amounts of energy and allows device batteries to last longer.

Where we use iBeacon?

  • You can track your locations both indoors and outside
  • Get discounts, coupons, special offers from stores as you just pass by.
  • Provide the right context to determine directions to what you really need – office in a building, store in the mall, nearest exit
  • Allow for mobile-payment platforms to pay automatically when you leave the store

Why iBeacon become NFC competitor?

Here, I have discussed the major reasons why Apple’s iBeacon Might Kill NFC:

  • Range:
    https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/wo/0.0.9.3.5.2.1.1.3.1.1
    NFC only works in close proximity and its range up to 8 inches, whereas iBeacon’s range is up to 50 meters. NFC-enabled devices require an NFC chip to transmit data, whereas iBeacon requires only iPhone support BLE.
  • Availability:
    BLE is available in almost every smartphone devices on the market, however not every phone comes provided with a NFC chip.
  • Cost-effectiveness:
    iBeacon is a Bluetooth technology which is inbuilt in pretty much 100% of smartphone  devices, so from customer perspective   it’s cost is zero. Whereas we need to buy an additional NFC chip for mobile devices.
  • Affordability:
    iBeacons are slightly more expensive than NFC chips. But, iBeacon is more affordable and its range is up to 50 meters. So, we need one beacon for a 1,700 square feet store and its estimated comes $99 (Estimate is currently offering pre-orders of three beacons for $99). If you would like to use NFC for the same area, you need around 10-cent NFC tags for each product of the store and it would cost you around $100,000 for 1 million product.

Apple has found a smart way to wirelessly transmit data over short distances using BLE. BLE can solve these micro-location data challenges in ways that NFC can’t duplicate. iBeacon is a promising step towards a very important and lucrative industry and coupled with fingerprint technology for privacy and security. The technology is currently used in retail, healthcare industry and education sector.

SEE ALSO: Useful features of iOS 7

Want add to this topic? Comment here.

Andolasoft launched service on QA Automation

Posted on by Jay

We are excited to announce launching of QA Automation service at Andolasoft.
QA is an important phase of SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) for releasing quality software.

Why QA Automation?

While manual testing is appropriate in some cases, it is a time-consuming and tedious process that is inefficient and conflicts with today’s shorter application development cycles.

As a result, it impedes the ability to thoroughly test an application. Whereas, Automated testing creates new efficiencies that accelerate the testing cycle and promote software quality.

Automated tests are quicker to run than manual tests as there’s no lag time between input and checking, as a result you can run more tests in multiple browsers rapidly.

Manual testing has a high risk of missing out of any test case, whereas Automated tests have zero risk of missing out a pre-decided test case.

Automation_Testing

Benefits of Software Automation Testing

Saves Time :
As automated tests are run by tools, it runs tests significantly faster than human users which adds to the first benefit of saving time.

Cost Effective :
Software automation tools are expensive for short-term, but you can save money in long-term. With the help of Automation tool, you can easily find bugs in less time. This allows your team to react more quickly, as a result it saves your precious time and money.

Consistency:
Automated testing offers a level of consistency, which is not achievable through use of manual testing.

Repeatable:
Testers can test how the software reacts under repeated execution of the same operations.

Reusable:
Tests can be reused on different versions of an application, even if the user interface changes.

Reliable:
Tests perform precisely the same operations each time they are run, thereby eliminating human error.

Comprehensive: You can build a suite of tests that covers every feature in your application.

Programmable:
Testers can program sophisticated tests that bring out hidden information from the application.

Quality:
Automation tools cuts costs and reduces software product time, as well as it help to ensure high level of quality in software projects.

Why QA Automation from Andolasoft ?

We have worked on various test automation models empowering us to provide custom solution based on client needs. Andolasoft uses only the latest performance testing technology like

  • Selenium (For Automation Testing)
  • Load UI and Browsermob (For Load Testing)
  • Accunetix, N-stalker, Nsparker & Websecurify (For Security Testing)
  • Browserlab & IE tester (For UI Testing)
  • Our own product Orangescrum (For Bug Tracking)

Our approach to Automation Testing is as illustrated below:

  • Decide and Design the framework
  • Prepare Test Cases / Business flows
  • Based on the number of flows and their size, effort estimation is prepared
  • Testers are involved in effort estimation process
  • Implement the framework by developing user defined functions / procedures and reusable actions required by the framework
  • Begin automating the scripts by means of the framework
  • Review the completed scripts
  • Use the scripts to check the sanity of the script against the AUT(Application Under Test)
  • Defect found during regression logged in defect tracking tool(Orangescrum)
  • Test execution report submitted to the stakeholders
  • Preparing metrics analysis
  • Enhancements or GUI changes handled with proper documentation
  • Based on the enhancement / change, scripts tweaked
  • As and when need arises required set of scripts executed
  • Regression testing is run in a batch in unattended mode
  • Delivering results to client for approval

You can check out the latest trends for the Software Testers.

Andolasoft follows a test automation strategy where our testing engineers do analyse your applications and provides you all the possibility of test automation.

Read more on accessibility testing tools

This analysis helps our client to achieve the optimum return on their investment and provide real benefit to the projects in which they are working with. If you wish to avail of our test automation consulting services, please contact us.

Visit our Quality Assurance services for more information about the Manual and Automation testing. We look forward to your feedback/comment.

Andolasoft launches “Patia” – Free App to Find your file in Dropbox & Google Drive

Posted on by Jay

Now-a-days usage of cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox are very popular. In general it is too hard to find a specific file from large heap of files in these cloud storages. We at Andolasoft released of a new FREE app named Patia to make your life easy.

Patia is designed to help you search Google Drive and Dropbox to find the shared files and documents from cloud storage without having to check them individually.

How does Patia work?

With Patia, you can type a keyword in the search bar and it will scan your Google Drive and Dropbox account for relevant files using the search term.

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Setting Up Patia

To set-up Patia, you just need to run GetPatia.com in your browser.

Just tap into the ‘Signup’ link and it requires only email address and password.

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Setting Up Patia

To set-up Patia, you just need to run GetPatia.com in your browser.

Just tap into the ‘Signup’ link and it requires only email address and password.

 

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Once you are linked with your accounts, simply click on the search bar and enter what you are searching for. Patia will quickly scan the integrated accounts to find the items matching the term you entered.

You can narrow down your search by selecting specific options.
For example, if you would like to search a file from the Google Drive then just select the “Google Drive” button and start search.

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If you would like to disconnect the Google Drive from Patia, then simply click on ‘Unlink Google Drive’ under Setting menu. It will unlink your Google Drive account. Do the same for Dropbox to unlink from Patia.

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Patia requires no installation and you can access it using your Smartphone or Tablet on the go.

Check out some of our free apps and  free responsive web templates.

If you have any questions/comments we will be happy to get them in the comments section.

 

What’s new in Android 4.4 ‘KitKat’ for Developers

Posted on by Jay

Google released the latest version of Android (version 4.4), known as KitKat on 31st Oct 2013. It is designed to work on a wide variety of devices. The new version of Android has got a lot of exciting features for both users and developers.

 

KitKat

Some of the new features in the latest version of Android for developers to learn and explore are:

Screen Recording

The screen recording feature of Android 4.4 lets you capture video of your app and save it as an MP4 file. The recording can done at any device-supported resolution and then shared directly from the device to a computer for post-production.

Full Screen Immersive Mode

Full-screen immersive mode in KitKat allows any app to go truly full-screen, hiding both the navigation and status bars and takes advantage of every last pixel on the screen of a smartphone or tablet. You simply need to do a swipe from the top or bottom of the screen, in order to display the system bars again. Basically, developers can hide the entire system’s interface while the user is engaged in their apps(like e-reader and other media apps and games).

Scene Transitions

Android 4.4’s new transitions framework allows app developers to define how one screen animate to another scene. Developers can use predefined transition types called TransitionManager that animate the properties that matters the most to your app.

Storage Access Framework

With the release of Android 4.4 KitKat, users now have a smoother way of accessing and creating documents in an app from a variety of cloud storage providers. Developers can add their own storage devices to Android without having to do it on a specific vendor by vendor basis.

New WebView & Chromium Features

KitKat includes new implementation of WebView based on Chrome for Android 3.0. It allows developers to use the latest compatibility features, performance standards and support in WebView to access their Web-based content. Chromium WebView supports many aspects of HTML5 as well as CSS3 and JavaScript.

New Near Field Communications Platform Support

One of the new features in Android 4.4 is Host Card Emulation (HCE) to support Near Field Communications (NFC) transactions. Apps can also act in a new “Reader Mode” to receive NFC functionality (like payment processing, building access, tickets etc.) as it uses an Application Identifier (AID) to route the different NFC function from the hardware in a device to the app.

Low-Power Sensors

Android 4.4 support for hardware sensor batching, a new optimization that can dramatically reduce power consumed by ongoing sensor activities. It can makes your app more efficient and it lets you track sensor events continuously.

RenderScript Takes Advantage of Device Hardware

RenderScript can now be accessed in kitkat 4.4 by a new C++ api in the android native developer kit. High hardware consuming tasks can now be integrated into an apps native code and it allow for support from multiple smartphone CPU and GPU cores.

Andolasoft has a team of experienced android developers who are skilled to develop innovative apps for all versions of android devices. We have developed Android Apps like KurrentJobs, EstateMobz and many more.

Useful Features Of IOS 7

Posted on by Jay

iOS 7 is the latest version of Apple’s iOS mobile operating system. It was first announced at WWDC on June 10, 2013. iOS 7 introduces great new features like Control Center, Air Drop for iOS, smarter multitasking and lots more. It also makes the things easier, faster, and more enjoyable.

Here are the best hidden features of iOS 7:

64 bit support

iOS apps can now be compiled for the 64-bit runtime. All system libraries and frameworks are 64-bit ready, meaning that they can be used in both 32-bit and 64-bit apps. When compiled for the 64-bit runtime, apps will run faster because of the availability of extra processor resources in 64-bit mode.

iOS uses the same LP64 model that is used by OS X and other 64-bit UNIX systems, which means fewer problems when porting code.

Better Multi-Tasking

Smarter API is one of the major feature of iOS 7. This new multitasking APIs has the ability to perform app updates in the background at convenient time. Now, when you double-click the home button, all apps appear as big screens. The last app you were in is now front-and-center so swapping between apps is lightning fast. Better yet, closing apps that are not working well now just requires a swipe of the finger up.

Multi-tasking
Email Enhancements

In iOS 7, it is very easy to find emails. You just need to know the persons email ID, name or a keyword and the Mail app will search the email for you. Also You can send an email from inbox to the junk folder in a single click. Just tap the flag in the bottom right corner of the email and choose “move to junk”.

Email

Email Enhancements

In iOS 7, it is very easy to find emails. You just need to know the persons email ID, name or a keyword and the Mail app will search the email for you. Also You can send an email from inbox to the junk folder in a single click. Just tap the flag in the bottom right corner of the email and choose “move to junk”.

Siri-Search

AirDrop

AirDrop technology simplifies data sharing between users of different devices nearby. Data is transferred directly, not via emails, cloud services and alike.

AirDrop

Junk Email

Now you can send an email from your inbox right to the junk folder. Just tap the flag in the bottom right corner of the email and choose “move to junk”.

Junk_Email

Save Money By Using Face Time Audio Calls

iOS 7 adds the ability to have audio only calls using FaceTime Audio. Now, you can make a call over 4G or Wi-Fi without the video component, and the sound quality is fabulous. Just go to the desired contact and press on the phone symbol next to FaceTime. Alternatively, you can search for your contact in the FaceTime app itself.

Audio-call

Looking to make your mobile application dreams come true? Contact us today to make it a reality.

Recommended Reading: How to make Static Framework iOS device independent?

Benefits of Choosing Cloud Management Service by Startups

Posted on by Jay

Cloud computing is a Internet based computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications.

In cloud management service, we can easily access multiple number of computers via Internet.

Cloud computing phenomenon is well suited for startups, because it will help you to give the  security and performance needs of your organization.

  • Major Benefits of Cloud Service

The main intent of the startups to grow the business. For this reason, startups are looking for strategies from where they can get maximum productivity or output within limited time frame and resources.

Cloud Computing provides powerful and flexible infrastructure, so that your staffs are able to work from anywhere, anytime from any device.

In this way you can give full attention to your business without worrying about IT infrastructure. Some of the benefits of cloud computing are as follows:

  • Reduces Operational Cost

By the help of cloud computing, one user can reduce the operational cost such as cost of data storage, software updates, management, and quality control.

Now you can get the cloud computing service at affordable price.

  • Scalability and Speed

In cloud computing service, the user does not need to install software or hardware for new application.

They can easily scale up or down the services according to the business requirement as there are many data centers are located in multiple location.

  • Innovation

With cloud computing, the user does not need to manage or own the resources.

It provides user the complete benefits like faster prototype development, testing and validation.

  • Optimal Resource Utilization

Cloud computing is environment friendly. With the help of Cloud, we can easily share servers, storage and network resources with multiple users.

  • Device Independence

Cloud computing services can be used and accessed from any device such as Desktop, Notebook, Smartphone, iPhone etc.  

SEE ALSO: How Cloud Computing will affect staffing and recruitment