Category: Articles

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4 Reasons Why You Should Incorporate Virtual Reality At Your Next Event

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]There is no question that virtual reality is one of the most popular emerging trends in modern age. It can provide authentic experiences and deeper insights into any product or event. Virtual reality can also make your next event a huge success!

A few industries that are implementing VR techniques are real estate, gaming, and healthcare.  By using virtual reality as a fun and innovative solution, you can make your event unique while keeping your attendees engaged.

Event organizers are striving to integrate the latest technology into their events. As experts in app development in Toronto, we know that VR has the potential to entirely renovate the events industry single handedly.

Different Ways Virtual Reality Can Be Implemented At Events

  • Host interactive virtual meetings:
    Attendees can use VR to direct their experiences remotely, by being able to participate in an event without physically being there. One of many 360-degree cameras such as Samsung Gear 360 or the LG 360 Cam make it possible for attendees to be present at an event as if they were there alongside others. There might be a possibility in the near future that VR could replace physical venues allowing people to attend events from the comfort of their own home. This will allow your event to be more accessible to audiences worldwide.
  • VR Gamification:
    Not everyone uses VR headsets; many of your attendees may not even have had a hands-on experience with them. Setting up VR booths at your event, before and during an event would certainly attract attention by allowing attendees to experiment with a VR headset. Using VR, combined with Image Recognition Technology, makes it easier to create simple games at your events. Letting your participants play games via VR will ensure that the focus is on you. Your attendees, therefore, become your participants. This improves the overall engagement between you and your participants.
  • Take it up a notch:
    Pictures, slide shows and/or videos are present for nearly every single event. VR can be a great high-tech alternative to these rather old school methods. You can make presentations come alive with Virtual Reality, boosting attendee engagement while being fun and informative. Rather than providing high-tech or expensive VR headsets to your attendees, the Google Cardboard can do the trick rather cheaply as all it takes is two pictures, one for each eye, a caption and a transition.
  • Product Testing:
    Consumers like to have a hands on experience with new products before buying them, hence the term product testing. This is why we see people trying out Apple devices at WWDC or generally any product right after the launch event. While small density products are more accessible for numerous attendees to test, it gets harder as the size of the product increases. VR has made it easier to test a variety of products no matter the size or the number of attendees. A good example of this is Volvo with their launch of XC90 SUV in 2014 and mind you, we are in 2017.

The lifecycle of an event is rather simple. It starts with a lot of buzz pre-event, during the event and shortly after the event. However, what’s important is for your event to be ingrained in the minds of your attendees. Integrating VR at your event will make it worth remembering for a longer period of time. In the core of an event lies attendee engagement and the many benefits of VR such as virtual meetings, gamification, interactive presentations and product testing will able able to keep them engaged. Increased engagement allows for a superior connection among your attendees and you. Ultimately, virtual reality may be the missing source for the superior connection you want.

Through our R&D division – InnovationLabb, TheAppLabb builds solutions with emerging technologies, Virtual Reality being one among many. Our event mobile platform, TheEventsApp allows event organizers to inform, update, engage and delight their Sponsors, Speakers, Attendees and Exhibitors. Emerging technology is the current trend and it’s time for you and your business to get on board!

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Bring Your Business To Life With a Chatbot

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]What is better than a quick and hassle-free service with just a tap? Utilizing chatbots in e-commercebusinesses can unlock many possibilities with a promise of an optimized experience! Technology has the power to not only engage consumers but can also help grow a business significantly. A chatbot fits in the puzzle towards an increase of sales as well as convenience.

Benefits of Implementing a Chatbot

  • The ability to deliver answers and manage issues promptly,  therefore improving customer service and the overall outlook of the company.
  • Re-engage customers with up-to-date promotions and product launch notifications
  • Promote 24/7 availability that welcomes all consumers throughout the day, forming meaningful relationships.
  • Tailor to a consumer’s needs and services by being unique to anyone.
  • Guarantee customer satisfaction with an automated order process.

Companies are recommended to implement chatbots if they have yet to. In fact, in 2016, Microsoft created a chatbot developer tool that provides support programmers to create bots for their current apps. Likewise, Facebook is providing toolkits for developers to create chatbots with automated features such as structured messaging, call-to-action prompts, and URL links, all in hopes to improve the relationship between ecommerce and chatbots.

Consumers hoping to receive information and updates from the store while shopping is becoming more common. Luckily chatbots can provide this feature as they are integrated directly into the channels where customers shop, ultimately improving their experience as shopping time is reduced. Businesses also benefit as they save time searching for a customer care representative, leading to an increase in ROI as costs reduce.

Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence is still an emerging technology but pressure is on for e-commerce businesses. If they do not start implementing and finding methods to improve customer experiences on their sales channels, their customers will move somewhere else. Therefore, taking into consideration the benefits of implementing chatbots, businesses should start looking into applying this into their sales channels.

Through our R&D division – InnovationLabb, our mobile app development company in Canada builds solutions with emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, IOT, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Blockchain. Emerging technology is the current trend and it’s time for you and your business to get on board!

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5 Mobile Retail App Features That Can Benefit Retailers!

Today, brick and mortar retail stores are slowly becoming less relevant due to the rapid growth in technology. People are taking advantage of the ease and convenience of a mobile commerce app to make their purchases.

In a world where most consumers and retailers have gone digital, those that have not are noticeably struggling. Did you know, as of May 4, 2017, 62% of all global mobile device users have made at least one online purchase in the last 6 months according to OuterBoxDesign CEO, Justin Smith. He also stated that 80% of shoppers use their mobile devices to acquire information while in a store, and that 10% of all retail revenue now comes from mobile purchases.

Evidently, in order to compete in this technology-centric modern world, a mobile commerce app for your store would be a recommended course of action. Before you get any mobile retail apps for your store, it’s best to make sure you have the right features and know how they work and benefit you.

Geolocation

Geolocation is used on electronics with internet access such as computers, tablets and mobile phones to locate an object. Retail apps with a built in Geolocation feature allows you to determine the location of the customers that have your app on their mobile devices. This information gives you the ability to determine the approximate distance between the customer and your retail store locations, and at the request of customers that have your app, you can direct them to the nearest store location.
A mobile commerce app with Geolocation can also be used in relation to deals and promotions. For example, if there is an ongoing sale/promotion at a store branch near the app user’s location, a notification can be sent to the customer and give directions, guiding them to that store. You can also segment and filter what promotional materials are sent to certain mobile app users based on their location to ensure the promotional content your customers obtain is relevant to their location.

Artificial Intelligence

There are many different features of Artificial Intelligence in a mobile commerce app that can help enhance the overall efficiency of your company and brand. A sales chatbot stimulates conversations with app users, guiding them through the buying or exploration process. Artificial intelligence collects information about the user based on their user history, shopping habits and preferences and provides help or personalizations based on the data collected. This can help personalize the product catalog by displaying the products and make recommendations that match the preferences of the user as well as displaying trends specific to the user’s demographics based on search and sentiment analysis.

Push Notification

Push Notification is an optional feature customers can choose to enable when they install or use a mobile app. They can be used in retail mobile apps to inform customers of upcoming events, news, product delivery notifications and more. Geolocation data and/or user preferences can also be used with push notifications to ensure that notifications are sent accurately to fit the needs and interest of the relevant customers. According to a report by Leanplum, personalized push notifications can increase the rate of responses by up to 800%. Keep in mind however, push notifications are to inform, not overwhelm.

Loyalty Program

The Loyalty Program is a common concept applied in the modern retail world attract more customers and reward loyal customers. Rewards that a customer can obtain range from receiving monetary awards to exclusive services. Bringing your loyalty program to a mobile retail app is useful as it allows you to easily track your customer’s behaviours and also makes it easier for both you and the customer to access the loyalty program. According to Oracle Hospitality, 71% of customers join loyalty programs because of discounts, and 63% join because of free rewards. These two rewards seem to be the most attractive to customers. In order to ensure that your loyalty programs are having their intended effects, you can refer to analytics tools.

Analytics

An essential feature for a mobile commerce app is an analytics tools. Analytic tools allows you to see performance data of your app. According to Shanelle Mullin of ConversionXL, the common questions people have when launching a mobile app are:

  1. How many users have downloaded the app in total?
  2. How many of those users are active?
  3. How do users interact and engage with the app?
  4. What features do they use most often? Which do they ignore?
  5. Which channel generates the most users? Most valuable users?
  6. Are users experiencing an friction? Any technical issues? UX problems?

All the answers can be found in the data provided in your mobile retail app’s analytics tool.

How Can TheAppLabb Help You?

The vast majority of the people in the world today globally own a mobile device and use it on a regular basis. Consumers are shifting to mCommerce as their preferred method of commerce. To attract this large group of mobile-focused customers to your business, you will need to adapt and get yourself your own personal mobile retail app for your business. However, not just any app will get the attention of those customers, you will need to design it in such a way where its features meet their expectations.
We, at TheAppLabb, are veteran mobile app developers with 10 years of experience in the field. Our mobile retail solution, TheRetailApp, contains all the sought-after mobile retail app features mentioned within this article. TheRetailApp is designed to allow retailers to enter the mobile market, drive sales with access to a product catalogs along with mobile transactions and payment integration, and inspire customer loyalty with push notifications for upcoming promotions and loyalty rewards programs. There is even implementation of analytics information, so you can track the app’s overall performance.

Ready for your mobile commerce app? Get in touch with TheAppLabb today at info@theapplabb.com!

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Top Tech Trends Businesses Must Incorporate in 2017!

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Top Tech Trends Businesses Must Incorporate in 2017!

Living in a society that is dominated by technology, we are bound to observe the compelling innovations that will soon be embraced in the realm of business. 2017 cordially introduces a myriad of technology trends that bring a promise of utility and engagement to society. This year will be enveloped with much more innovation in Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Blockchain, Augmented Reality, Intelligent Apps, Intelligent Things and Conversational Systems. With the power of technology, many businesses should capitalize and execute these digital strategies as a drive towards company growth.

 Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence enables a computer to learn, reason, understand and interact to make decisions like humans.

Mobile app development companies know that businesses are overwhelmed with data. The amount of information on theInternet and privately held within companies is growing exponentially.  Without intelligence, there is no point in storing all this massive amount of data. AI can be best used to sort through that data, derive insights and instruct on proper actions to take based on data analysis.  It’s impossible for humans alone to analyze these large data sets.   Through informed decision- making with AI, industries become more accurate and efficient

Big technology giants have invested and created technologies to set in motion innovation with AI. We have seen Google make advancements with its deep learning technology and the launch of IBM Watson.

The types of artificial intelligence innovations we will see in 2017 are conversational systems, intelligent apps, and intelligent things. They will transform and improve approaches to productivity in retail, education, healthcare, government, businesses, manufacturing plants and much more.

Throughout this article, you will find examples of what you can create in AI, for your industry in 2017.  AI brings innovative technology trends that will positively benefit and impact every business and industry type.

 Conversational Systems

Messaging services have gained lots of momentum in the last few years and are only going up in demand once you add cognitive computing to it. If you haven’t heard, conversational systems are the new social media.  Individuals can interact with apps or other digital devices via bidirectional text or voice conversations to make requests and receive answers promptly.  Conversational systems are powered by AI; they understand user needs and then provide a correct response that has been assigned to that scenario immediately, based on the decision tree.  Additionally, conversational systems can intuitively self-learn from scenarios to improve algorithms.  In 2017, everyone will be raving about the rise of innovation with Chatbots, a popular conversational system, and its capability to build rich user experiences by mimicking how humans communicate versus a browse or search interaction.

Here are some Chatbot solutions that will be popular this year:

  • Sales Chatbot is a conversational solution, where shoppers can converse with a system to be guided through the whole shopping experience. Chatbots enhance the user experience by providing recommendations for products based on user preferences and persona as well as allow them to place and modify orders.  Businesses can advertise, upsell and cross-sell products to shoppers. This solution is ideal for retailers, e-commerce businesses, restaurants and ticket sellers.
  • Travel Chatbot can assist travel agencies by streamlining the process through conversational solutions for customers interested in booking a vacation. Users can ask questions regarding destination, hotels, flights and prices all in real time.  Through relationship interaction and personality insights, the system will provide and match solutions for users.
  • Virtual Guide Chatbot can be used as an educator, advisor or guide to assist individuals in transforming the teaching process into a conversation and familiarizing them with the new environment and/or skills. Some applications can include, helping new university students navigate the campus; hotels can assist travelers in foreign countries; Companies can aid new employees integrate faster and operate as a teaching assistant for online students.
  • Customer Service Chatbot can improve service for consumers and reduce the load on company help desk.  Companies can answer customer questions right away by training the Chatbot to answer frequently asked questions.  Through tone analysis, chatbot can detect disgruntled customers and escalate to a manager

Intelligent Apps

We can thank Artificial Intelligence for the advent of intelligent apps, another promising technology trend.  Intelligent Apps are a combination of AI and apps.  AI comprises of various methods such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, and speech/visual recognition.  Cognitive Apps use various methods such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, and speech and/or visual recognition to provide insights into broader areas in real-time assisting users in identifying opportunities, decision making and performing redundant tasks that require processing lots of data.

Here are some of the technology trends we will see for Intelligent Apps:

  • Real Time Relevant Alert App provides users with information that is most relevant to them by analyzing and curating content via AI techniques like natural language processing, contextual and sentiment analysis. For example, financial institutions could provide real-time information related to markets trends, investment opportunities, company news, stock tickers through cognitive apps to investment managers so they can better assist clients and manage funds better.  Such apps would best serve companies in healthcare, retail, finance, education, government and media industries.
  • Diagnosis Apps assist medical professionals in diagnosing patients by matching patient symptoms, health history, vital stats, nutrition data with criteria for a particular condition, and further match it with relevant treatment and medications.  The app algorithms are designed to mimic the current screening and diagnosing process for any health problem.  Apart from medicine, such apps would serve well as a solution for professional in nutrition, fitness, sports, and therapy.
  • Education Apps will change the way educators teach students through personalization.  The app collects and analyzes data on optimal learning patterns, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, and academic progress of students. The information provides immediate feedback that guides instructional decisions and assists in creating unique customized targeted instructional plans matched to every student’s requirement.

 Intelligent Things

Intelligent things can be best described as assorted technologies meshed up together to give emergence to self-governing devices.  In other words, current Internet of Things infused with hardware, software, sensors, apps and chips combined with AI, delivers intelligent things.  AI and machine learning can power Internet of Thing devices to learn, reason and converse amongst each other autonomously and deliver desired outcomes with little supervision.  Popular inventions circulating are smart home appliances, smart medical devices, robots and autonomous vehicles.   In the near future, we will see many technology trends especially AI empowered devices immersed in physical locations such as home, hospitals, retail stores and manufacturing plants creating and providing seamless experiences.

This solution for Intelligent Things will be in demand in 2017:

  • IOT enabled Retail Solution analyzes Wi-Fi, sensors, ibeacons and facial recognition video data and provides personalization using artificial intelligence and chatbots to enhance the in-store customer experience.  Information extracted from IoT technologies is used to identify emotions, visit frequencies, understand preferences, recognize customer’s behavior and in-store locations that get the most traction.  Insights from data analyzed in real-time enable IoT technologies to autonomously offer promotions and product information to customers while they walk about the store, and redirect appropriate store personnel to shoppers. Retailers gain from increased sales when facilitating technologies that accelerate real-time decision and more tailored 1-on-1 marketing and services to shoppers.

 Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are immersive experiences created by making use of digital devices and software programs. Virtual Reality provides the user with the perception of being actually present in the interactive world via a headset. The headset gives a 3-dimensional view, other sensor simulations and the virtual interactivity gives user ability to navigate in the virtual environment.  The user identifies the world as real, as they can freely move about and interact with things in it. Augmented Reality differs from VR as it doesn’t provide a fully immersive experience.  Instead, Augmented Reality overlays digital data and multimedia elements onto the real world they are in, via the phone camera or AR headsets. These experiences can be achieved with VR headsets such as  Oculus rift, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, Sony Playstation VR and Google Cardboard; AR headsets such as Google Glasses (RIP], Recon Jet, Solos, Vuzix, Sony SmartEyeGlass; and Mixed Reality headsets such as Microsoft Hololens. VR and AR will deliver many technology trends and is a value add for any business, so don’t miss out on creating these captivating engaging experiences for your target audience.

Here are some practical uses for VR and AR that will be popular this year:

  • VR Apps for real estate can be used to showcase pre-construction homes and condos, with immersive 3D and virtual reality experiences to potential buyers.  Buyers could view property layout, customize the layout by changing wall color, designs, flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and appliances. Real estate developers’ benefits include reduction of costs by eliminating physical showrooms, upselling on upgrades easily and speeding up the buying process. Here is a video of a similar project that TheAppLabb team recently launched.
  • VR Trainer apps can simulate the entire job environment in virtual reality for organizations that provide complex field training for professionals like mechanics, pilots, soldiers, and doctors. Trainees are enabled to apprentice and master skill sets required for the job, by learning through action in various virtual scenarios and interacting with simulated equipment. Organizations will benefit from decreased training expenses and reduced hours spent on live training.
  • AR Job guide apps can assist employees that need access to digital information in front of them through augmented reality glasses when both their hands are required to carry out field work. People working in Complex Assembly, Maintenance, Material Handling and Field Service can access digital content such as work orders, service tickets, maintenance tasks, data dashboards, video conference feed to an expert, to enhance productivity.

 Blockchain

Blockchain, the underlining technology behind the disruptive bitcoin movement is increasing in popularity. Blockchain is a publicly available, time stamped transaction publishing technology that can be verified via a decentralized authority, consisting of networks of individuals participating in the system through various laptops and hardware scattered worldwide.  Core benefits of Blockchain are expedited transactions, reduced costs, protection against fraud, transparency, security and the ability to record the movement of transactions digitally with it’s distributed ledger functionality.  Blockchain technology can last forever as long as the peers in the network consistently participate, continuously keeping verify transactions on a timely basis and retain copies of transactions on Blockchain network.  Blockchain has many practical purposes where there is a need to store and preserve public information at any given point of time.  It can be applied for digital asset protection, title registration,  and property ownership.

Here is a Blockchain solution that will become prominent in 2017:

  • IoT enabled Blockchain system can be used by manufacturing and supply chain companies for digital asset creation, storage, and management of products, online customer identities and the internet of things. For items being shipped and transported over through multiple systems, Blockchain and IoT can provide information on the position, delivery date, and place of product packages.  Organizations have data accuracy assurance with blockchain technology and can handle the movement of products accordingly to ensure smooth delivery.

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Five Ways to Get More App Downloads

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text c_id=”.vc_1496168336026″]After months of strategizing, wireframing, designing and developing your work is finally done — your app is up and running and ready to take the world by storm. But after a few weeks it becomes clear something’s terribly wrong: no one is downloading it. What could be the problem? The truth is, whether you’re an enterprise brand or a startup founder, you still have work to do to help your app become a success. So, to get you on the right track here are five ways to get more app downloads.

Get Some Attention

Market your app! Write press releases to get the word out, and reach out to media contacts. Just include a few details about what your app does and the people who made it, and services like appshout! and TargetWire can help you distribute them. For even more impact, personally reach out to mid-tier blogs for reviews. While they may have less traffic, that means your app will stay news longer — and chances are one of the big blogs may take notice. With every new review, make sure to leverage that media attention to get as much coverage as possible.

Localize Your App

After all the blood, sweat and tears that went into your mobile app development, it would be a shame to miss out on a wider audience — that’s why it’s important to localize your app. Translate content into common languages like French and Mandarin, depending on your targeted market. If the budget is tight, look for professional translators on freelancing marketplaces like Upwork, or call in a favour from a fluent friend. Don’t forget to translate App Store descriptions!

Drop The Price

Once you get some buzz going, your next step is to capitalize on all that hard work and get as many downloads as you can, as fast as you can. How? Consider effectively eliminating the barrier to download for many users by making your app half price or even free for a limited time. Why? Because the number of downloads in a set period of time is a key factor in increasing an app’s rank and visibility in the App Store, making it free will end up making you more money in the long run. Even after the download spike subsides and you set the price back to normal, you should still see consistent downloads thanks to your newly improved status in the search results.

Optimize Your Website

Yes, you’ve created a mobile app, but don’t underestimate the power of a website, even if it’s just a simple landing page. Use SEO to drive traffic, and don’t stop at a download link — add all the information a user could possibly be looking for, from app description & screenshots to a contact form for feedback, and links to social media (you have social media channels for your app, right?). Be open and engaged: a well-curated social media presence can make all the difference.

Know Your Users

Finally, there’s a secret weapon that can help you keep your users happy: analytics. Use the data you get from your users to make adjustments, additions and changes in direction to your app in order to maximize user satisfaction & retention. There are so many tools to choose from that can help you make sense of all this data, from Google Analytics for Mobile Apps to Countly — try a few out and see what works best for you. Remember, most apps only retain about 20% of their users. Do everything you can to keep them once you get them.

 

If you follow these tips, with a little effort and a little luck you’ll see those download numbers start to shoot up.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Top iOS 10 Feature Updates

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Top iOS 10 Feature Updates

At WWDC 2016 last month, Apple showed off some of the key features they’ve added and improved on for iOS 10. Now that the public beta is available, we can finally see some of these features in action! They still have a few kinks to work out before the full release, but Apple’s added some intriguing features that give us more options, and help make our lives easier by embracing the power of innovations like AI and IoT. Here are some of the most interesting feature additions and updates in iOS 10.

Siri Now Open to Developers

Everyone’s favourite AI voice assistant can now play with others — Apple is opening Siri up to third-party developers. This means you can ask Siri for help with some of your favourite apps, and she can deliver. Need a ride? Ask Siri to order you an Uber or Lyft to your desired destination. Can’t text because you’re rushing to meet friends for dinner? Now Siri can send a WhatsApp message to let them know you’re running late. This update opens up a world of possibility, and new ways for AI to streamline and improve our day-to-day lives.

Home

IoT is here to stay, and Apple has added a dedicated app for controlling HomeKit-compatible appliances. Home allows to you control every compatible device in your smart home, from Nest thermometers to August smart locks, from one dedicated hub with a simple tap of the finger. Home’s best feature is called Scenes, where a single command from you activates a customizable, pre-set routine. For example, on your way out the door, you could simply tap your ‘Work’ preset and Home will take care of locking the door behind you, turning off specific lights, and adjusting the thermostat. Whether you ask Siri to close the curtains at night or adjust the light levels at a dinner party with 3D Touch, you’ll always be in full control of your connected home.

Raise to Wake

Apple has totally redesigned the iPhone lock screen: no more slide-to-unlock. Instead, as you lift your phone it will automatically spring to life, making it simple to glance at your phone and see what you’ve missed. You can use 3D Touch to dismiss notifications, reply to messages and double check your next appointment without unlocking your phone, saving time by keeping the information you need easily accessible.

Removable Stock Apps

Does anyone honestly use built-in apps like Stocks, Tips and Reminders? Most of us have tried to cut down on home screen clutter by hiding little-used apps away in a folder we rarely open. Well, with iOS 10 many pre-installed apps are now removable! Use a different weather app, or prefer Gmail’s dedicated app for your email? No problem. With iOs 10, you can delete the apps you don’t want with the option to download them again later if you choose. Fair warning, though — your user data gets deleted along with the app, and you can run into other issues such as weather no longer syncing to your Apple Watch.

Universal Clipboard

Not as glamorous as some of the other features, the Universal Clipboard will nevertheless be a welcome addition to iOS 10. Finally, you’ll be able to share content across all of your Apple devices without fussing around with AirDrop. As long as your devices are all logged into the same Apple ID and running iOS 10 or Sierra, text, photos and even videos you copy to your clipboard will automatically be sent to iCloud, ready for you to paste on another device. This simple update replaces third-party solutions with an easy-to-use native application.

iOS 10 is still in beta, so you may want to hold off on updating your iPhone for now — mobile app developers are still working out the bugs, and some of your apps may not function properly. However, we don’t have much longer to wait: the full release is expected in the fall, and more updates could be in store.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Happy Father’s Day! Here Are the Top Apps for Dads

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Happy Father’s Day! Here Are the Top Apps for Dads

With Father’s Day just around the corner, the annual struggle to find that perfect gift for Dad has begun. It may not be as big or expensive as a birthday gift, but it still needs to show appreciation for him putting up with you throughout the years. Moms can be relatively easy to shop for: flowers, a card, maybe some chocolate and you’re done. Fathers, however, usually prefer something more practical and useful that doesn’t wither away within the week. So, why not start with an app? As experts in mobile app development in Toronto, we know that apps can be much more helpful than a random trinket or tool and have a positive impact on your dad’s day-to-day. Here we’ve scoured the App Stores and found some of the most useful apps that can help Dad be healthier, gain skills, and become more efficient.

Rapala Lure Selector

For the fisherman father, Rapala takes the guesswork out of choosing a lure. For many, buying and using the right kind of lure can be more luck than skill. This app lets you select the perfect lure depending on current conditions such as the kind of fish you’re going after, weather conditions, water depth and more. With Rapala your phone will become an integral part of your tackle box, getting your dad more bites, more catches, and more bragging rights.

Couch to 5k

Is Dad getting a bit pudgy, but you just don’t know how to break it to him? Give him a little nudge with an app that’ll supportively get him off the couch and into the old running shoes. Couch to 5k has been taking the healthy living scene by storm, and with a massive success rate and a growing following this app has been helping people achieve their fitness goals around the world. With a simple routine that only needs 30 minutes a few times a week, tons of features to make running as enjoyable as possible and in-app encouragement & rewards, this app makes it easier than ever to get active.

Mixologist

Whether it’s to unwind after work or entertain the guys on the weekend, sometimes Dad needs to make a drink. What to do when the basic beer or wine options don’t cut it and you’re looking for something a little more refined? With Mixologist, thousands of cocktail recipes are at your fingertips and a drink for any taste or occasion can be quickly searched for and served. Even with a limited cabinet, the ingredients you have on hand can be entered and a list of options will be generated. Plus, along with teaching tips & techniques for mixing drinks, this app can also help you find nearby liquor stores when it’s time to stock up.

Forks Over Knives

Want to help Dad tap into his inner chef? Even if you’re just tired of his tried and true recipes, here’s an app that’s sure to spice things up in the kitchen. From the makers of the film Forks Over Knives, this app offers over 200 elegant, delicious meals from some of the top chefs in the world. Each meal is whole-food based, designed in a way health professionals claim can help prevent problems such as heart disease and diabetes. With a step-by-step cooking guide, shopping list sync, ingredients list and an easy-to-use interface, this app can turn anyone into a foodie. Ranked the #1 food app by Apple and constantly updated with new content, for $6.99 this could be a gift that keeps on giving.

Clear – Tasks, Reminders & To Dos

If your dad’s the forgetful type, clearly that crumpled up sticky note in his pocket just isn’t cutting it. Why not streamline everything that needs to be done with one simple app? Clear is a feature-rich, award-winning productivity app that can get anyone’s cluttered life back on track. By creating multiple lists, each with their own themes and reminders, Clear can organize everything you need to do from daily tasks to yearly ones. Plus, with iCloud compatibility you can easily sync Clear across multiple devices. Project checklists, shopping lists, birthday reminders and that perfect gift idea you thought of a week ago – Clear will make sure Dad forgets things a lot less.

 

There you have it! Show your Dad these apps this weekend while he’s kicking back on the couch and see how much they can improve his life.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Happy Mother’s Day! Check Out the Top Apps to Brighten Her Day

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Happy Mother’s Day! Check Out the Top Apps to Brighten Her Day

As we’re sure you already know, Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday. Along with flowers, chocolate and a day at the spa, wouldn’t it be nice if you could suggest some apps that would make every day a little bit easier for the moms in your life? As experts in app development in Toronto, we figured we’re the perfect people to help you out. These are some of the top apps for Mother’s Day to make her days a little brighter.

 

CleverCards

Forget to pick out the perfect card for Mom? Don’t worry, online cardmakers CleverCards have you covered — you might just have to finally accept Mom’s Facebook friend request. The CleverCards app has several beautiful templates to choose from, and you can go the extra mile and personalize your card with photos and a special message right on your smartphone or tablet. Plus, you can set a reminder for next year and score some brownie points with Mom by having CleverCards locally print & deliver your sentiments the old-fashioned way: through the mail. But if you’re reading this on Sunday and just realized what day it is, don’t fret — you can also share an e-card via Facebook or email instantly. It’s the thought that counts.

 

LocaWoka

For most moms, there never seems to be enough hours in the day. It’s hard for moms to unwind and enjoy their rare moments off when they’re mentally running through a checklist of chores that keep being put off: wash the car, mow the lawn, paint the garage… it never ends. Luckily, there’s an app Mom can use to outsource all those terrible tasks: LocaWoka! LocaWoka is an easy way to get things done at the touch of a button: just post your task description & deadline, choose a trusted “Woka” to do the dirty work, then sit back and relax. Instead of wondering where in her week she’s going to fit chores in, Mom can focus on the important things in life — like helping her kids with homework, or binge-watching Downton Abbey.

 

Red Card Blue Card Game

Parenting isn’t all fun and games: sometimes kids act up. But it’s easy to underestimate just how differently parents and children understand things, so how can a mom effectively discipline her little ones while holding on to her patience and sanity? The Red Card Blue Card Game helps kids between the ages of 3 – 8 understand the consequences of their actions, and rewards them for good behaviour in ways they can relate to. And good news for moms on the go: the Red Card Blue Card Game app is now live! The next time Junior has a meltdown in the grocery store, Mom can simply take a deep breath, whip out her smartphone and have him decide if he’d rather draw a red card or change his behaviour. Crisis averted.

 

Allrecipes Dinner Spinner

Moms wear many hats, from accountant to chauffeur to personal chef — and trying to please the palates of an entire family can feel like a losing battle. So what’s a mom to do when she only has two hours to spare between picking the kids up from school and taking them to soccer practice? The Allrecipes Dinner Spinner app lets you know what’s on sale in your local grocery store, suggests recipes based on the ingredients you want to use, lets you search for recipes based on criteria like cooking time, and much more. With this app, Mom can get everyone fed in a snap with no fuss.

 

WagJag

In an ideal world, moms would get some time to themselves whenever they needed. But let’s be honest: a real day off is usually few and far between. This Mother’s Day, why not introduce your mom to a daily deal app like WagJag? She can search for spa sessions, wine tours, yoga classes and more, often at deep discounts. What better way for Mom to spoil herself guilt-free? Plus, there’s the added benefit of getting in some extra pampering time post-Mother’s Day: it would be a shame to pass up that half-off ten-pack of manicure sessions.

 

There you have it! We hope these apps help the moms in your life have a great day, on Mother’s Day and beyond.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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How Apps Can Help Small Businesses

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How Apps Can Help Small Businesses

If you’re a small or mid-sized business owner, you probably haven’t put much thought into creating an app for your business. The time, effort and money involved must be too much for anyone who isn’t turning a huge profit, right? Wrong! Small and mid-sized business owners need to start looking at mobile apps as the indispensable tools they are — tools that can raise brand awareness, drive traffic and ultimately increase profits, making them worth the investment. It’s all about creating an app strategy that makes sense for your business goals and choosing features that help you build lasting connections with your customers, improving their experiences with your brand. Here are a few key ways apps can help small businesses!

Be a Utility or Resource For Your Target Audience

You can build an app that solves a pain point for your customers, while connecting them back to your product or service. No matter what your business is, you can find a human problem your target audience has and use a mobile app to help them solve it. For example, we created an app for Rapala, a fishing lure manufacturer. Many beginner fishermen are unsure how to choose proper lures from the vast selection available, and frankly can be a little intimidated by the process. So, the Rapala app has three functions: it defines what lures are best for different species; it helps anglers select the appropriate lures for their fishing conditions using real-time data on water temperature and depth; and it lets users purchase lures for their next fishing trip directly from the app, saving them a trip to the store. What problems do your customers struggle with? Take the time to figure out what they need, and how your mobile app can help them. Done right, your app will also reinforce how your product or service is the solution they need.

Create a Great Loyalty Experience

Mobile apps can offer you so many ways to reward your customers. For example, are you an independent coffee shop owner? Instead of the stickers or punch cards many places use for their loyalty programs, stand out and make yours fun with gamification on your very own mobile app built using TheBaseApp! Your customers can check in and complete tasks to earn user loyalty badges, like trying your newest roast or bringing a friend. Offer discounts or free drinks to your customers after they reach a set number of check ins, and offer a special incentive to the customer at the top of your leaderboard each month to keep driving traffic to your business. In a similar vein, let’s say you build custom furniture — why not use your app to involve your customers in the process, by offering live streaming at points in production so they can see your work in action? The beauty of an app is this: it lets you decide how you can best engage your customers, gives you the freedom to try new approaches, and makes it easy for your customers to stay up to date and get on board with new initiatives.

Scale Your Business

If business is booming, building your own mobile app is the perfect way to expand and scale your business. Technology can enable you to provide your services and products to an audience beyond your local coordinates! Utilize a mobile app customized to your business to expand globally — if your physical store is in one country and you don’t quite have the capital necessary to expand to another, that doesn’t mean you can’t start building awareness and selling product. A mobile app can integrate e-commerce solutions, increase awareness of your brand and give you the ability to solve the needs and wants of larger audiences in the global marketplace. Plus, an app can help you gain insight into how your product or service will perform in a given area, potentially saving you time and money in the expansion process.

Take a good look at your business and your customer base — you’ll find there is so much opportunity to grow your business and reach your customers in engaging, innovative ways. Mobile apps are the first step in unlocking that opportunity and seizing your potential: you just have to take it. Team up with TheAppLabb, a leading app development company in Toronto, to unlock your potential.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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What’s Next For The Future of Apps

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What’s Next For The Future of Apps

It was a packed house at Hotel Ocho in Toronto on the Tuesday before St. Patrick’s Day, where TheAppLabb CEO Kundan Joshi was invited to tell the crowd at Tuni Talks all about one of our favourite topics: “The Future of Apps”. Not to brag, but we’ve made over 450 of them — we know our stuff. We also know the constantly changing nature of technology can be hard to wrap your head around, so we were thrilled Kundan could share his knowledge and break down the difficult things to “get” into pieces that are a lot more manageable, and a lot easier to digest.

When it comes to technology, we agree with the great Wayne Gretzky. Meaning, of course, we should always strive to be a step ahead. Instead of being satisfied with the progress we’ve made, we should be putting in the extra effort needed to create change and constantly be on the lookout for new ways to innovate. However, that’s easier said than done. With new innovations in tech emerging every day, how can you be expected to keep up? Well, as leading mobile app developers in Toronto, we’re hoping we can make things a little easier for you to understand, and help you be a bit further ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest trends. Want to find out more about what’s next in the future of apps? Keep reading!

What We Want From Apps In The Future

Believe it or not, apps have been around a lot longer than you might think. Remember Snake, that super addictive game on your old Nokia cell phone? That’s an app that would have put Candy Crush to shame during its heyday. Decades before Snake, the Baby computer used to first calculation app to figure out a near-impossible calculation in record time. Even Fitbit launched their first device in 2009… that feels like ancient history.

Naturally, as apps evolve so do our expectations of them. In the future, we want apps to provide more features relevant to our lives, seamlessly connect with the real & online world, and not only present content personalized to our preferences, needs and locations but anticipate our preferences, needs and locations. We can expect apps of the future to be hyper-personalized — that is, they’ll use data to give us more targeted, personalized content, services and products. Several apps you use are already embracing hyper-personalization: Starbucks stores your previous orders and lets you order directly from the app, Domino’s has introduced delivery via Emoji, and Spotify creates playlists of new music based on what you’ve been listening to. Apps will also be equipped with fully integrated voice assistance, and seamlessly integrated with the Internet of Things.

Internet of All the Things

What is the Internet of Things anyway? Wikipedia says it’s “the network of physical objects—devices, vehicles, buildings and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity that enables these objects to collect and exchange data.” Basically, IoT is everyday devices — from fridges to thermostats — that use sensors & connectivity to work together, understand our needs and operate automatically to take a little stress out of our lives.

Even if you just learned what it is, IoT is already ingrained in our lives at home and on the go with mobile controlled lighting & devices, temperature learning from personal habits (like the Nest thermostat), mobile keyless entry and wi-fi security cameras (like Dropcam) and connected wearable fitness trackers (like Fitbit) — but that’s only the beginning. In the future we can look forward to efficient smart homes with automated lighting & devices, artificial/holographic assistants, smart walls that control security & events, and connected wellness monitoring that will help us stay healthy.

Artificial Intelligence

Simply put, artificial intelligence is the intelligence exhibited by machines or software. We humans have been fascinated by the idea of “thinking machines” for almost as long as we’ve existed, and we’ve spent years and years trying to figure out how to make it work.

What was once a dream is swiftly becoming our reality, with IBM’s Watson leading the charge. Since Watson’s decisive victory over the best Jeopardy! players on the planet five years ago, AI has cotinued to evolve. Pepper the Robot, powered by the IBM Watson AI, recently charmed attendees at Dx3 Canada with its ability to perceive human emotion, recognize faces and make conversation.

In fact, Pepper is so effective that in the near future it’s likely our favourite retail stores will be staffed with small armies of Peppers. Artificial intelligence will make a mark on our lives at home, too. JIBO, the world’s first social robot, can read & tell stories to children, proactively take photos at family gatherings, deliver hands-free messages and remind us of tasks while Cubic, a “personal AI with personality”, uses its advanced speech recognition capabilities to hold conversations including delivering traffic updates in the car, ordering delivery to our homes — even telling us jokes tailored to our senses of humour.

User Interfaces, Augmented Reality & Nanobots – Oh My!

User interfaces, the way we interact with computers & machines, are poised to make big changes in our lives. We’ll soon evolve from relatively commonplace smartphones, wearables and voice NLP to gesture controlled interfaces, augmented reality and smart contact lenses. Google is currently working on contact lenses that measure glucose levels in the tears of diabetics, reducing the need for painful blood testing, Are these smart contact lenses the future of computing interfaces? We’ll have to wait and watch. Plus, nanobots (tiny devices built at the scale of a nanometre) will no longer be a science-fiction concept, as their medical application will become an integral part of improving human health — for example, by drilling through blocked arteries to help treat heart disease. Will these nanobots soon become an extension of our brains, enabling us to tap into computing power in the cloud? Futurist Ray Kurzweil thinks so.

The Future is Now

It all boils down to this: as technology has become a key part of our everyday lives, it’s more important than ever to look ahead to see not only where we’re going, but how much further we can go. One of the Tuni Talks attendees asked our CEO, “Will technology be a threat to the human race in the future?” He responded, “We humans have the responsibility to shape technology towards our benefit. Let’s choose the right problems to solve with the power of technology. 50 million kids in the world are without elementary school. How about using technology to democratize education for them?”

Intel CIO Justin Rattner put it best. Extend yourselves, imagine, think creatively about the problems in the world that you want to solve. With technology, you can achieve that.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]