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Happy International Women’s Day! Check Out the Coolest Female-Founded Startups That Use Apps

 

From Ada Lovelace (the English mathematician also arguably the first computer programmer) to Margaret Hamilton (the computer scientist who wrote the code that landed us on the moon), women have always had a profound effect on the tech world. But it’s only in recent years that their contributions have become more noticed. With each passing year, more and more women are breaking new ground and making noise in the startup world. So, since today is International Women’s Day, our mobile app development company is taking the opportunity to celebrate some of the coolest startups founded by women that use apps.

 

Jewelbots – Sara Chipps & Brooke Moreland

Jewelbots are, simply put, friendship bracelets that teach girls how to code. Using the iOS + Android compatible app, girls can program their bracelets to emit different colours & patterns of light to communicate with their friends. After hitting their initial goal of $30,000 in just 19 hours, they raised over $166,000 on Kickstarter proving people believe in their mission to empower the next generation of female engineers & coders.

 

Revel Systems – Lisa Falzone

By combining the mobility of the iPad with cloud-based technology, cofounders Lisa Falzone and Chris Ciabarra created an iOS-based point of sale solution for restaurants and retail stores alike. With a plethora of supporting apps including a customizable white label mobile app that lets customers pre-order on the go, they’ve revolutionized the way businesses handle their day to day. Founded in 2010, they’ve raised over $127 million in funding and boast 400 employees.

 

SOLS – Kegan Schouwenburg

Founded by former 3D printery director Kegan Schouwenburg, SOLS uses 3D printing to create customized orthotic insoles and send them directly to consumers. Using SOLS’ iPhone app, people simply snap a photo of each foot sole and send them in. From there, reference points are created and perfectly fitted insoles are 3D printed and sent along to their new owners. Since the seed round, they’ve gained an additional $17 million in funding.

 

Hey! VINA – Olivia June Poole & Jen Aprahamian

Hey! VINA is a brand new app that matches up like-minded women looking for new friends. Called “a Tinder for (girl) friends” by Techcrunch, users connect their Facebook accounts to help find mutual friends and take quizzes to assess personality and interests. Whether users are new to their city, looking for a yoga partner or simply just looking to meet new friends, the app helps women connect.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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It’s Election Season! Here are the Top Apps to Track #SuperTuesday

It’s the biggest day to date in the race for the White House: Super Tuesday. Sanders, Clinton, Trump and Cruz face off in 12 states in an effort to win their respective parties’ nomination for the Presidency of the United States. With so much news to follow and results to find, here at TheAppLabb we’ve made it a little easier on you to make sense of it all. These are the top apps to track Super Tuesday with.

Election NF 2016 – US Presidential Election News

One of the most comprehensive apps available, Election NF 2016 helps you follow the presidential campaign with an unbiased news feed. You can personalize your news feed with topics you care about, see video of debates & other media appearances, save stories to read later and use the in-app commenting system to discuss issues on the go.

PollTracker

PollTracker updates you on the races that matter the most in seconds, whether you want a detailed look at individual polls or a broader view of what’s happening now. With push notifications, interactive charts and the ability to share the latest results with your social networks, PollTracker is a great option.

all Politics

all Politics gives equal attention to the left and the right with breaking headlines, news & views, debates and political satire for both sides. It’s also a great aggregator, keeping all the news from MSNBC, Fox, Politico and more in one easy to access place.

Voter – Matchmaking for Politics

The Tinder of politics, Voter will help you hop off the fence and commit to a candidate. They’ve analyzed voting records, speeches, stances and more to help you match accurately. All you have to do is answer a few questions about your political opinions and then you’re ready to swipe through issues. At the end, a percentage will show you how closely your values align with candidates, and suggest who you should vote for based on what matters to you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Here Are The Top Apps That Can Help Prevent Bullying, Just in Time for #PinkShirtDay

In honour of Pink Shirt Day, the mobile app developers and technology evangelists at TheAppLabb have curated a list of the top apps that can help prevent bullying.

 

ReThink:

Developed by a 15-year-old(!), ReThink uses context-sensitive filtering technology to intuitively detect hurtful, offensive language and asks users to “rethink” if they really want to post it to social media. Research shows that when kids & teens are asked to rethink what they’re saying, they change their minds 93% of the time – effectively stopping cyberbullying before it starts.

 

STOPit:

Inspired by the tragic story of Amanda Todd, STOPit lets kids report bullying behaviours and acts as a strong deterrent for those doing the bullying. With STOPit, kids can take screenshots, record video & audio and report bullying to school officials anonymously. It also includes 24/7 access to a crisis call centre for kids who need someone to talk to. Students at schools that purchase STOPit can use the app for free.

 

I Am A Witness Keyboard:

Bystanders play a big role in stopping bullying. That’s why The Ad Council, along with a coalition of partners, developed the I Am A Witness campaign. Kids can use the Witness Emoji, a speech bubble with an eye in the centre, to call out bullying when they see it. The Keyboard, available in App Store and Google Play Store, also contains images, GIFS and emojis kids can use to express themselves when they experience bullying.

 

KnowBullying:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed KnowBullying, an app that helps parents & teachers open a dialogue with kids about bullying. With reminders to talk to kids about their day, warning signs of bullying and strategies to help your children avoid bullying, KnowBully gives you the power to prevent bullying.

 

Mobicip:

Mobicip is a multi-platform app that allows parents to set controls that can protect their kids from cyberbullying. With app usage monitoring, browser history reports, time limits and more, parents can easily stay on top of what their kids are doing on the Internet from their smartphone, tablet, or even Apple Watch!

 

With the help of these apps, maybe one day soon bullying can be eliminated altogether.

Pink It Forward![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Top 5 Tips for building successful Social Discovery Apps

Through our experience of developing several Social discovery apps for our clients at TheAppLabb here are the Top 5 Tips for building successful Social Discovery Apps:

1. Be mobile first and stick to mobile only
2. Be multi-platform, i.e. launch both iPhone and Android apps right from the beginning
3. Your phase 1 launch should be a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) – which focuses only on delivering the core features of the app. It’s ideal if you have atleast 1 feature which no other app does (well atleast no other successful app targeting the same audience).
4. If you are targeting on 2 sets of audience at the same time, which are critical for discovery, e.g. men and women, riders and drivers etc., then make sure that you focus equally on acquiring both the audiences, to maintain the supply and demand
5. Setup analytics to get all the critical user behavior data, such as time of user activity. You can use such data to target ads or incentives at the same time.

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Our Top 12 Tips to prevent hacks and security breaches on your mobile app

With the recent hacker attack that breached the security of the Starbucks app, it has brought to light the importance of implementing all the measures necessary to ensure security for your mobile app.

Based on our extensive experience of app development in Toronto here at TheAppLabb in building secure mobile apps, we have compiled a list of different practices that mobile apps can incorporate to prevent hacks and security breaches:

1. Single SignOn: The user should be able to sign in from only one device at a single point of time.

2. OAuth: We can provide a 3 layered security to the user between the back-end application and the front-end mobile app through OAuth implementation (as implemented with apps like twitter and Instagram). OAuth is basically an authentication protocol that allows users to approve the application to act on their behalf without sharing their password. Additionally we can protect the web services with rate limit functionality in order to protect from over-hitting of the server. Rate limiting helps control the rate of traffic sent or received by a server or network.

3. Single Sign on with OAuth: To enable users to have more secured transactions from only one place at a single point of time, we can integrate Single Sign on Mechanism with OAuth functionality.

4. Registration: To prevent registration of fake users, and fake user information, we can implement Email verification and Captcha. One-time password (OTP), which is a password valid only for one login session or transaction, can also be implemented.

5. Encryption: All the important data that is transferred between the mobile application and the Server should be in an encrypted format. This means that the data on the network layer even if accessed from outside won’t be in a readable format. RSA and SHA encryption techniques are effective techniques for the same.

6. WhiteList IP: To prevent in-house applications and Enterprise Applications from being accessed from outside, it is essential to whitelist the IP address as a check point.

7. Https: All the data that is associated with commercials should be transported on the Https layer.

8. Touch ID: In iOS, Touch ID mechanism can e integrated, as an authentication to prevent the app form being used by unknown users even if the phone is lost.

9. Analytics: It is important to keep a track of all app related activities through analytics. It is useful to track the app usage, as well as track the IP and method of each transaction. For e.g., Utilizing test fairy we can track activities as screenshots along with internet provider information and timestamp.

10. Two Factor Authorization: In case of mobile transactions, two-factor authentication can be instituted into the app, requiring a person to enter a separate code before making changes to the account. That way the user will need to validate account changes and or be tipped off to activity in their account.

11. Block Access: If too many incorrect password attempts have been made, then the app should block access to the account in order to prevent brute forcing.

12. Terms & conditions: Especially for apps which feature purchases utilizing mobile wallet, it is important to have terms and conditions in place to bind the fraudulent user. So that if a user is flagged for making fraud activities, then legal action can be undertaken against the user.

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Save your time with TheAppLabb’s Productivity tools!

 

 

At TheAppLabb we are always looking for the most effective ways to enhance users experience. Which is why as a leading app development company in Canada we love building apps that help people save their time by increasing their productivity. With that in mind, today we are sharing two amazing apps developed by our team that will help increase your personal, professional and organizational productivity.

Locawoka App

LocaWoka App is here to make people’s lives easier and more satisfying by enabling them to ‘crowd-source’ their day-to-day errands or get assistance in tasks which they normally would not have the time or skillset to do. Free up your time by outsourcing all your chores like cleaning, laundry, lawn moving etc. For more details, click here: https://theapplabb.com/locawoka/

Urbery

Do you hate going to the supermarket and then waiting in long line ups to pay for your groceries? Do you ever wish that by the time you reach home your groceries were delivered at your door? So get ready to use all this time to go to the gym or to spend some quality time with your kids. Urbery delivers your groceries where you want and when you want. As your personal grocery shopper, they will shop for your order and deliver fresh groceries to your doorstep within 2 hours.
To know more about Urbery, visit: http://www.urbery.com

If these apps helped you save your time, do let us know![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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How to Launch Your App Idea

As the Mobile industry is booming and many startup successes are emerging, there are a lot of App ideas that seem within an arm’s reach. But before you start dreaming big, there is some advisable homework one should do before approaching a mobile app developer in Toronto or your future investors/partners.

There are a lot of problems out there which need to be solved. There are also many ideas to be explored & executed. Then, how do you make sure your idea is actually viable and on the path to your desired goals?

Before you begin, it all starts with Planning. “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”― Benjamin Franklin

Hence, let’s start with the question:
Why having an App Strategy is so important?

Planning, researching, analyzing & validating are the first steps to your Mobile roadmap. Seems too overwhelming? Well, let’s understand why they are important:

• You see a problem and come up with lots of ideas. From those ideas, you shortlist some, and a few more – to finally arrive at ‘The Big Idea’.
• But before you get married to ‘The Big Idea’ it is important to test & validate it, to understand if this idea already exists, if you are actually solving a unique problem that has not been solved yet or offering a better solution.
• That’s where ‘User Validation’ comes in. Understanding the user and letting them play with your idea gives great insight into whether or not there is a market for your App. But that’s not the only thing.
• It starts with an idea and grows into a business. Whether it is a social venture or a for-profit business idea, like any business, as many aspects as possible need to be considered before taking the plunge.
• Next comes ‘Growth Validation’ – What is your Revenue Strategy and how will you be able to make money to sustain & grow the business.
• Which platforms do you want to choose to reach your target audience? From iOS to Android, to Wearables, the choices are endless and constantly growing, how do you make the right choices?

It is important to understand that creating a successful App is a step-by-step journey, which involves, critical thinking, user empathy & strategic decision. Shortcuts are only in movies and well, maybe a very few exceptions, but to ensure your chances of success are higher with lesser side trails, it is important to have a plan and good advisors to help you through the process.

To deliver & implement your app ideas into powerful solutions for real world success, we are always open to hearing your ‘Big Idea’.

You can find more information by watching our previous webinar on YouTube.
The presentation is also available on SlideShare.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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5 reasons why you need to make training fun

You might be someone who says: “I’ve tried many things, but after a couple sessions, the staff gets bored again”.

If you attended our Webinar Series on Wednesday, “The Age of Gamification in Training”, you got a good idea on how to bring more fun into your corporate training!

But if you didn’t, here’s a bit more on what Gamification is?
Gamification “is the use of game thinking and game mechanics in non-game contexts to engage users in solving problems.”

Games can easily engage, motivate and trigger a desired behavior which can be gratified & equated with incentives & rewards. This helps the team move towards goals with a fun aspect incorporated.

1. Gamification = Learning + Progressive Incentives

If you have already implemented an App for your training sessions where your staff can take courses and exams, why not add a gamification feature to it? By turning traditional training into learning via games, you will see an increase in performance & productivity levels.

2. Set up the goals

Make sure the goals of the game are clear to your staff of app developers. Be transparent about their results and provide fast feedback so motivation stays strong.

3. Staff engaged & motivated with Business Goals & Objectives

Gamification needs to be linked to your business goals and objectives. It should engage & lead your staff to the desired results. Gamification has always been used for corporate training and more so today with the high presence of mobile technologies. Many large & small companies have started to implement these tools internally as well.

4. Millennial Generation

The current adult generation grew up playing video games. They are very familiar with game mechanisms and although they might stop playing consoles, they still play on their smartphones. Both company owners and employees that are part of this generation highly value & enjoy this new training trend.

5. It’s time to change it!

Always keep content fresh. Change the game interface, colors and dashboard. If you are using this training app more than once, make sure to enhance the user experience to keep the motivation alive and kicking!

If you are looking for new training solutions for your company, don’t forget to check TheLearnApp to see how this platform can help you and your staff be more successful.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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From Annoyance to Instrumental – 5 tips on how to use Push Messaging

One of the most effective ways to keep your event attendees informed, updated & engaged at all times, is to implement the use of push messages into your mobile app.

Some people like it and find it useful, while others would say that it can get quite annoying & pushy. In this post, we will try not just to point out a few “annoying” push messaging practices, but most importantly, to show how to get your attendee’s attention in a relevant way.

1. Before the Event

Reminding the users before the event is a great thing. A few relevant things for this first phase would be sending out messages about directions, parking info, public transit or any updates to the schedule. Anything to help the event attendees before they get to the venue, is considered helpful.

2. Keep your messages going during the break – not during the speaking sessions!

Don’t make your attendee’s life harder! If they are watching a speaking session, try to schedule your push messages to the last couple minutes of the speaking session. Nobody likes to get interrupted during an interesting session by a speaker they’ve been waiting for so long to see, by pop ups on their phone screen.

3. Edit push settings easily & keep track of the amount of messages

Always keep track of your priorities! Know how many push messages you have already sent and keep a good amount of time between each. As experts in mobile app development in Toronto we know that nobody likes to get bombarded, even if they are ok to get updates. Another thing that’s important, it’s to make sure it is easy for your app users to edit the push settings: turn it on or off should be easy. Also, it’s important to make it easy for your app users to be able to turn the settings on or off easily.

4. 200 characters: be relevant!

iOS devices have a limit of 200 characters on each push notification. It is important to see how it looks in the CMS before sending it out and, if the message actually informs the user clearly.

5. Be personal

From the info gathered from the app download, try to send 1 or 2 personal messages to the attendee. After download & at the last day of the event, it’s a good idea to reward the user for using your app. Any rewards should have the person’s name in the notification.

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TheAppLabb Webinar Series – “How to Mobilize your Event & Take it to the Next Level?”

TheAppLabb Webinar Series presents a special segment for event planners!
The webinar highlights TheEventsApp and how the platform can accelerate your event. From Social Media Integration to Event Information, Attendee & Sponsors Listings, Leader Boards & much, much more…[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/mxigHxU1HtE”][vc_column_text c_id=”.vc_1496155699718″]If you cannot watch the video, click here.
Presentation available on SlideShare.
To know more about TheEventsApp, click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]